Ireland’s most successful squash player seeks 6th Irish Open title before retiring
Ireland’s most highly ranked squash player of all time, Madeline Perry, is seeking her final title at this year’s GillenMarkets Irish
Open Squash tournament where she is the number 1 seed in the women’s draw. Madeline has announced her retirement from the world tour after this event. Ranked 18 in the world at 38 years of age, Madeline will have to see off the challenge of the number 2 seed, Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana (world ranked 20), and a field of players ranked just behind her such as the rising star, Emily Whitlock (ranked 25) of England and Olivia Blatchford of the USA (ranked 37) who beat Madeline in last year’s event. Ireland’s Aisling Blake (world ranked 40) is seeded 6.
Madeline reached number 3 in the world rankings in 2011, with 11 tour titles and more than 120 caps. She won her 15th Irish National title in February last. Madeline was the leading player on the Irish team when they came second in Europe in 2012, and helped Ireland win a another silver medal in 2013. In the World team championships, she helped Ireland win a 5th place in Cairo in 2008 and since then has helped to ensure that the Irish team finished somewhere in the top 8 teams in the world for the last number of years.
The GillenMarkets Irish Open, will take place in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Appian Way, Dublin 6 from 22nd – 25th April.
Again the event will be streamed live on IRISH SQUASH TV HERE
The men’s event sees rising Egyptian star, Mazen Hesham, the number 1 seed, challenge for his first Irish Open title. The 21 year old World University Champion will have to overcome last year’s finalist, the Scottish number 1, Alan Clyne, alongside a field that sees world ranked players in the top 30. The Irish number 1, Arthur Gaskin (world 85), will be in action in a bid to match his excellent efforts in reaching the semi-final last year.
5 Irish men (B.Byrne, M.Craig, R.Byrne, K.Moran & S.Conroy) and Ciara Moloney will also be taking their place in the qualifying draws on Monday and Tuesday.
DRAWS (all times included)
Qualifying Draw – Women
Main Draw – Women
Qualifying Draw – Men
Main Draw – Men
Day 2 – Tuesday 21/4/15
The second day of the GillenMarkets Irish Open saw the final round of qualifying, which provides 4 players for the main draw of the womens and mens competition, starting on Wednesday.
First up was New Zealand’s Peter Coll playing Sanjay Singh Chal from Malaysia. Peter won this easily 3-0 – (11-3, 11-8, 11-7) in 30 min and now plays 4th seed M. Mangaonkar from India. Shehab Essam beat Chris Fuller from England in a super match winning 3-2 (7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9). Shehab now plays 8th seed Charles Sharpe from England.
In the other half of the draw, Mohamed Elgawarhy won vs. Ribadas from Spain 3-1 – (11-9, 14-16, 11-5, 11-5) and now plays Australian 6th seed Rex Hedrick. In the last match, European Under 19 champion George Parker from England won a super match vs Mark Fuller 3-1 – (11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2). George now plays France’s Lucas Serme in the main draw.
Ireland’s Arthur Gaskin play number 1 seed Egypt’s Mazen Hesham in the first round on Wednesday; a tough match for Gaskin who is world number 85 versus the world number 27.
In the women’s event, Belgian, Nele Gilis won her match vs. Alison Thomson 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 in 19 min and now plays 2nd seed Nicolette Fernandes. The battle of the 2 French players – Cyrielle Peltier and Chloe Mesic was a great match going to 5 games with Peltier wining 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5 in 55min. She now plays USA’s Olivia Blatchford. Tamika Saxby won vs Czech Klimundova and now plays Ireland’s Aisling Blake who is 6th seed. Finally Leonie Holt beat Serafini from Brazil, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 in 20 min and now plays Number 1 seed Ireland’s Madeline Perry, playing in her last professional event.
Qualifying – Round 2 – MEN
Seedings apply to Qualifying event only
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) beat (7) Sanjay Singh Chai (Mas) 11-3, 11-8.11-7 – 30min
[4] Shehab Essam (EGY) beat [8] Chris Fuller (ENG) 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 – 87 min
[6] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) beat [3] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-9, 14-16, 11-5, 11-5 66min
George Parker (ENG) beat Mark Fuller (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 9=11, 11-2 – 43 min
Qualifying – Round 1 – WOMEN
Seedings apply to Qualifying event only
(6) Leonie Holt (ENG) beat (4)Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11 – 9, 11-4, 11-6 – 20min
(2) Tamika Saxby (AUS) beat (8) Anna Klimundova (CZE) 11-8, 11-1, 11-7 – 25min
(3) Cyrielle Peltier (FRA) beat Chloe Mesic (FRA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5 – 55min
(1) Nele Gilis (BEL) beat Alison Thomson (ENG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 – 19min
Day 1 – Monday 20/4/15
The first day of the GillenMarkets Irish Open was for the 1st round of the qualifying which will provide 4 players for the main draw after Tuesday’s matches.
There were 6 Irish Players playing today. First up was Sligo’s Keith Moran playing Sanjay Singh Chal from Malaysia. A tough match for Keith playing a full time professional. He lost it 3-0, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8. Irish Boys champion Michael Craig was next up vs. Shehab Essam from Egypt. Michael started well winning the 1st game 11-6. The next game was very close with the Egyptian winning it 11-8. He won the next easily 11-2 and came through 11-9 in the last game to win 3-1 in 62 min. Sean Conroy the 21yrs player now a full time pro, had a super match vs. Mohamed Elgawarhy from Egypt, The match lasted 55mins and went to 4 games, Sean winning the 3rd 16-14. The other 3 games were very close 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. Rory Byrne played Chris Fuller from England. Unfortunately Chris just had too much for Rory who lost 11-3, 11-9, 11-5.
The Irish number 2 Brian Byrne was last up of the Irish men playing world number 83 Peter Coll from New Zealand. The difference between a professional and amateur player was evident despite a gallant effort from Brian. Coll won 3-0 in 32 min. In the women’s event Ciara Moloney from Carlow had a hard match vs. Anna Klimundova which she lost 3-0.
The newly crowned European Under 19 champion George Parker from England won a super match vs. Scotland’s Douglas Kempsell – 11-9, 11-3, 11-9. This was an entertaining match with the tightness of the his shots from Parker being the difference. Definitely a player to watch and a top pro player of the future.
Qualifying – Round 1 – MEN
Seedings apply to Qualifying event only
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) beat Brian Byrne (IRL) 11-2, 11-5.11-9 – 32min
[7] Sanjay Singh Chal (MAS) beat Keith Moran (IRL) 11-2, 11-5, 11-8 – 25min
[8] Chris Fuller (ENG) beat Rory Byrne (IRL) 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 – 31 min
[4] Shehab Essam (EGY) beat Michael Craig (IRL) 6-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 – 62min
[3] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) beat Robert Downer (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 – 33min
[6] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) beat Sean Conroy (IRL) 11-6, 11-9, 14-16, 11-9 – 55min
George Parker (ENG) beat [5] Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 53 min
Mark Fuller (ENG) beat [2] James Huang (TPE) 14-12, 11-4, 11-5 – 40min
Qualifying – Round 1 – WOMEN
Seedings apply to Qualifying event only
Leonie Holt (ENG) beat Elin Harlow (WAL) 13 – 11, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10 39min
Anna Klimundova (CZE) beat Ciara Moloney (IRL) 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 – 17min
Chloe Mesic (FRA) beat Marina De Juan Gallach (ESP) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 – 23min
Alison Thomson (ENG) beat Tessa Ter Sluis (NED) 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 13-11 – 35min