Campion, Owens set up final showdown

By Raju Chainani

HURGHADA, APRIL 8. England's World No. 1 Cassie Campion and the dainty dancer from Melbourne, Carol Owens have set up an intriguing showdown at the Al-Ahram women's World squash Grand Prix finals. Campion came through an acid 77-minute test from New Zealand's Leilani Joyce as she prevailed 10-9, 8-10, 9-5, 3-9, 9- 0. Owens, world ranked five, ran riot agaist England's world No. 3 Linda Charman with a 9-0, 9-2, 9-5 scoreline after just 24 minutes.

It was appreciably cooler on the waterfront tonight. ``Allah is smiling on us'', said an Egyptian supporter as windy and at times, gusty conditions greeted the players. Campion versus Joyce, the battle royale between the world's top two, was the heavyweight fight of the evening. They began at a breakneck pace and it was Joyce who had the early say. The Maori led 4-1 but this was pulled back by Campion as she sent a clinging forehand down the rails to level at 5-5.

The World No. 1 reached gameball with a backhand volley, a stroke as beautiful to watch as the blue waters that surround the island resort. It was on her fifth gameball that she got her racket to a forehand crosscourt, a reflex shot and it went past Joyce to close this 27-minute opener.

The second game went Joyce's way, albeit in a similar manner. Campion led 3-1, saw her opponent up a gear and win the next five points. The World champion was helped by some casual volleying and it was soon 6-6. Joyce had her chance at 8-7 but was denied by an inch-perfect backhand drop. The Kiwi had something more to offer as two forehand crosscourts whistled past Campion.

The pace slowed in the third. Campion was ahead 5-2, Joyce came within a point but it wasn't enough. Campion anticipated a crosscourt and dismissed it into the corner to take the game. She started the fourth well and at 2-0, things were looking glum for the Kiwi. ``They are playing poker'', said an old hand, Both are tired. Indeed they showed signs of distress and it was Campion's attempt at the bold and beautiful that did not pay off.The World No. 1 had been caught out on two occasions by the Joyce serve, at 3-5 in the second and again on the same score in the fourth. She was slow to move out and the ball hit her, something one would not associate with the World champion.

Carol Owens could easily have had Emily Bronte write a new novel, The wind in the kangaroo willows. The diminutive Aussie had the mermaids mesmerised as she blazed through the opener in five minutes. Linda Charman got into the service box only once, at 0- 6.

Owens had five winners on the forehand, four on the backhand and the packed gallery were on their feet. She was 3-0 up in the second before an error on an attempted forehand boast put Charman on the scoresheet. A backhand crosscourt drop left Charman stranded as the Aussie stretched her lead to 5-1. A Red Sea special was to follow at 7-2 as Charman tried a forehand lob but there was Owens, ready and waiting. She crushed a forehand volley into the nick and in a matter of 15 minutes had established a two game cushion.

The third almost had a twist as Owens raced to 6-0 before Charman got into the act. The England star had three winning backhands, the last sending Owens towards Luxor whilst the ball disappeared in the direction of Marsa Alam. The score read 5-6 and it changed because Charman served out and found the tin twice with volleys she should have done much better with.

Owens had played as if she were on rocket fuel. After the match she showed her lighter side, ``It could be the wonderful food here. I have been living on OmAli, the traditional sweet and I guess I may have a bucketful tonight. I haven't played Linda in a WISPA event for four years. I am glad I caught her quickly because in the third game she started to come back''.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : FIA's decision most unwelcome, says Mallya
Next     : India wins the doubles rubber to stay on course