LOCAL squash `Queen’ Nicolette Fernandes bowed out of the Allam British Open Squash Championship after losing 1-4 to Hong Kong’s Annie Au at the Hull, England, squash court yesterday.Fernandes is currently ranked 20th by the Women’s International Squash Players Association’s (WISPA) while Au is ranked 11th.
According to a British Squash Association report, Fernandes won the first set 11-8, but lost by 6-11, 3-11 and 10-12 margins in the other three sets.
On April 25, Fernandes lost to Ireland’s Madeleine Perry in the final of the Irish Classic tournament over two weeks ago at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in front of an absolutely packed centre court.
The report from the Irish Squash Association reported that there was certainly an air of uncertainty whether Perry would have been able to overcome Fernandes, who had looked impressive all week.
The report stated Fernandes established a lead in game one but Perry found her range midgame and started wowing the crowd with some excellent shots to the front court and claimed the first game 11-8 and established a quick 6-0 lead in game two. She never looked back after that and secured the game 11-5.
Perry continued her good play and Fernandes fought back trying to go in short quicker. It worked in parts, but Perry’s relentless hitting brought her to 10-8 match ball.
Fernandes, who gave it her all and dived full-length twice, pulled one point back but Perry eventually closed out the game 11-9.
In her winning speech, Ireland’s most successful female Squash player said: “This is one of my favourite events and I want to also thank Nicolette, who is a very fun and fair player, for making it a good final, particularly since it is my very last.