NEXT STOP, CHICAGO!

The final day of the Simon Warder Memorial did not disappoint. The house was full as fans were predicting who would win their spot in Chicago's World Championships. Congratulations to Samantha Cornett in our Summit Insulation Women's Division and Shahjahan Khan in our ANJ Men's Division. We will be cheering you on in Chicago!

[1] S. Cornett (CAN) vs. [4] L. Turmel (ENG) 3-0, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (27min)
Match report by Holly Delavigne
 
Turmel starting out by keeping the ball straight while Cornett slips in some low, hard crosses. Both players getting a feel for the game and their opponent and are trading points. Cornett begins varying the pace while Turmel is seeking a higher pace on most of her shots. Cornett takes two points on straight drops to pull a lead to 7-4. A long rally ensues and Sam wins with another great drop to the front right. Cornett finds herself under pressure in the next rally but gets herself out of it with a Nikki Todd-like lob and forces a long rally. She wins on another beautiful forehand drop. A switch back to punishing length and Cornett takes the first game.
 
Cornett starts the second game with very little pace but she is accurately hitting all the corners of the court. Turmel counters with two hard kills and takes a lead for the first time in the match at 3-2. A long length rally follows and Cornett hits a beautiful drop from behind Turmel to tie it back up at 3-3. Cornett is loving the front right corner and its working for her and uses it to take 2 of the next 3 points. Turmel steps back up to the T and finds a beautiful backhand volley drop. An error from Cornett and the score is a tight 6-7. Cornett makes a great read up front and sneaks a ball in behind Turmel in the middle of the court. Another forehand winner from Cornett and she has established another lead at 9-6.  Cornett is looking determined and refuses to give up any more points, taking the second 11-6.
 
Cornett’s intensity remains after the break and she comes in looking strong in game 3. Turmel is staying in the rallies but Cornett’s experience shows as she punishes every loose ball. Cornett still finding the forehand drop and winning with it as she takes a lead at 3-2 and then makes it 4-2. Turmel is prolonging the rallies with some high lengths and she is up on the T looking for opportunities. Another long rally and this time Turmel’s patience paid off, it’s 3-4. The pace picks up in the next rally and Cornett wins another in the front right that was “stuck to the side wall like crazy glue” according to tournament organizer, Gary. Turmel answers with two punishing backhand volley drops and tightens the game up 5-6. Turmel is avoiding Cornett’s forehand now but she can’t on the serve return and Cornett takes the serve back 7-5. Turmel takes a second between points to refocus and it works as she takes the next point. A great length by Cornett to make it 9-6 and another forehand drop to give Cornett match ball. Cornett looks laser-focused, hunting for opportunities. She finds one and the match is over. Cornett is on her way to Chicago.
 
[4] S. Khan (PAK) v. [8] H. Mustonen (FIN) 3-2, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 3-11, 11-7 (47min)
Match report by Holly Delavigne
 
Both players are testing out a variety of shots and changes in pace in a long first rally. Khan takes the first shot with a tight backhand drop. Another long rally and Khan again tries to end with another drop, this time clipping the top of the tin. A quick error by Khan and Mustonen now has a 2-1 lead. Mustonen starts to push up on the T and is looking for the volley while Khan is looking for his signature backhand drop.  The players continue to trade points as they form their strategies. Khan with another backhand drop but this time Mustonen reads it and counters with a great lob to keep himself in the rally. He continues to work all the corners of the court, seeing himself to a 6-3 lead. An error by Mustonen into the tin give the serve back to Khan. Mustonen makes a great get  and sneaks a ball behind Khan in the middle of the court. Khan has Mustonen stretching around the court but he doesn’t seem to mind. Mustonen taking control now and an unforced tin by Khan give Mustonen game ball. Mustonen uses his reach to snatch a crosscourt attempt by Khan and takes the first game.
 
Khan comes out looking strong in the first goes up 2-0 and then 4-1. He is working the backhand drop and stretching Mustonen out. The players trade outright winners at 2-4 and 5-2 and the crowd is thrilled. Khan takes another winner off the serve and goes up 6-4. Mustonen is trying hard to vary the pace but Khan is keeping up. Incredible gets by Mustonen to defend a solid attack by Khan and Mustonen takes back the serve at 5-6. Mustonen wins the next 2 points to go up 7-6, but Khan, frustrated by a stroke call, channels this and hits a winner to tie things at 7. Some great rallies keeping this game tight. An error by Mustonen as he breaks a string at a crucial point, making it 9-8 for Khan. Mustonen appears to have lost focus and Khan takes the second 11-9.
 
Khan looks for his backhand drop early in the third.  He continues to attempt to attack with the drop but Mustonen is catching on and defends well.  Mustonen attemps to attack short and Khan also answers, winning a long rally. Khan surges ahead from 3-0 to 7-0 before Mustonen gets on the board. Khan is looking strong and Mustonen makes a few errors and it’s 10-2 game ball for Khan. He is running Mustonen all over the court. Mustonen staves off one game point but Khan is patient and takes the game 11-3.
 
Both men seem to love the 5-setters so the crowd is keen to see what will happen here. Khan looking sharp and quick in the first rallies but makes an error into the tin to make it 1-1. Mustonen with tight forehand drop and then an unforced tin by Khan sees Mustonen go up 4-1. A long rally follows with some incredible gets and athleticism as both players play through some interference. Mustonen with a great stretch to win the rally 5-1. Mustonen is showing a phenomenal variety of shots now and Khan is struggling to respond and making a few unforced errors. Mustonen’s now finding his hands at the front and all of a sudden Khan finds himself down 2-9. Mustonen with a perfect length to win the game 11-2.
 
The crowd is pumped for game 5. Both players looking sharp and staying away from the drop as it has both worked and punished them both thus far in the match. Khan hits a crosscourt that rolls out of the nick and the final game is 2-2. Khan seems comfortable to start looking for his drop again. Some patient squash ensues with great length rallies but it is evident that both players are now back to hunting the drop. Khan with a forehand volley drop to make it 5-2 and then Mustonen responds with a beautiful counter drop to make it 3-5. Khan goes on the attack and surges ahead to 7-3. The crowd begins to encourage Mustonen. He is trying different things but Khan is everywhere. A tight cross court by Khan and an error by Mustonen sees Khan go up 9-3. Mustonen isn’t ready to throw in the towel. He is stretching to all the corners and hitting with some decisive pace.  5-10 Mustonen and then 7-10. The crowd is on the edge of their seats. Mustonen is in the fight but Khan sees his opportunity and goes for the winner and with that he is also on his way to Chicago.

Photo credits to Emily Nutson.