[1] James Willstrop (Eng) bt [2] Nick Matthew (Eng)
9/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/6
(75m)
Finals wrap from Rikki Swannell
Willstrop wins the last one ...
James
Willstrop is the new Mamut English Open champion, the last major
tournament of 2007, beating the slightly more local favourite Nick
Matthew in four hard-fought games at Sheffield's English Institute of
Sport here tonight.
It was Matthew who started the brighter, opening up an 8/4 lead in the
first game, but Willstrop lengthened the rallies as he worked his way
back into it, levelling at 9-all. But then two short kills from Nick
gave him the lead, much to James' frustration.
The second was a similar story in reverse as this time James took the
initiative and a 7/3 lead, Nick brought it back to 9-all only to see
James finish the game off to draw level.
The
pace of the rallies speeded up in the next two games, both players
attacking and volleying at every opportunity, and it was James who
generally got the better of it. He lunged for the ball to hit a lucky
drop – "did you mean that?" "no" – to go 7/3 up in the third, and
finished it 11/6.
The pace was very fast now, and
James drew away from 5-all in the fourth, again finishing it 11/6 as
Nick's final shot hit the tin.
James was champion, Nick was runner-up for the second time, but for
both the post-Chennai celebrations could begin.
First BSPA for Vanessa
Top seed Vanessa Atkinson duly claimed the Eventis English Open - part
of the BSPA UK circuit - with a tough three-game win over second seed
Lauren Briggs.
Lauren certainly had her chances, keeping pace with the former world
number one for most of the first game, cursing herself for tinning an
easy ball that would have taken the second to extra points, and
narrowly failing to complete a comeback from 10/7 in the third.
In the end though it was the more experienced Atkinson who played
steadier at the crucial points to clinch the title which Lauren won
last year.
"I
was going to be here watching James anyway, so I thought I might as
well enter, and it's turned out to be a good finish to the year..
"I started the year well, and wasn't disappointed about my results
because I was playing well, but not getting through started to knock
my confidence a bit. It's at time like that you realise that your
confidence is easily knocked and once you've lost it it's very
difficult to get back, but I feel good now and hopefully I'll be able
to get off to a good start next year.
"Lauren's one of those players coming up who are just looking for a
first big win to set them off. That's what happened to me in2003/04, I
got one big win and then went on to win eight tournaments.
"That was a really good example of a hard 3/0 that wasn't too short or
too long, perfect for a 31-year-old!"
"I
was going to be here watching James anyway, so I thought I might as
well enter, and it's turned out to be a good finish to the year..
