Nick, Jenny triumph in PSA, WISPA squash

NEW DELHI - Top seeds Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf lived up to their billing and won the PSA and WISPA Punj Lloyd Squash Masters titles here Sunday.

Nick registered his 15th win a row against countryman James Willstrop 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 to pocket $29,093 in the second richest tournament on the mens professional circuit at $192,500.

For James, the match against his nemesis was more about fighting the demons in the mind. Nick had beaten James to win the gold medal in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

James, ranked fifth, was desperate to win against the soon to be number one player but failed to take the crucial points.

“It is always tough to beat him. We had a lot of long rallies and that suits my style of play, said Nick.

“It has been a great year for me and I need some much needed rest now. New Delhi has been a great host. I look forward to come here next year, he said.

It was again England all the way in the $36,500 WISPA event. Top seed Jenny Duncalf blanked Australian Kasey Brown 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 to end the year on a high.

Both had played a grueling five-setter enroute the finals but it was Jenny who held her game intact.

World No. 2 Jenny was put under pressure in the first two sets with the score 6-5 on both occasions. But with some fantastic display of nick drops and low smashes, she outplayed Kasey.

“I could not have asked for a better result. I had not won a match in three sets during the competition so it was great to win in this fashion,” said an ecstatic Jenny.

Christmas is around the corner and this just perfect. But first I have to find a way to get home. The airports are shut due to snow there,” she added.

Kasey, who made an exceptional comeback against Annie Au of Hong Kong in the earlier round, said she was beaten by a better opponent.

“I struggled on the court. I could not get on top of the ball on time and with someone like her (Jenny) I needed to be at my best. I was carrying some illness but in any case she played better,” said Kasey.

The winner took home $5,415 as prize money while the runners-up got richer by $3,480.