10:57 am
11 May 2024

Swartz Swoops To Maiden WISPA Title at Meersquash Open

13 Nov 2006

In only her second appearance in a WISPA World Tour squash event, South African teenager Tenille Swartz has lifted her maiden title after beating Italy's Manuela Manetta in the final of the Women's Meersquash Open in Hoofddorp in northern Netherlands.

Swartz, a 19-year-old qualifier from Parys, made her breakthrough in the quarter-finals of this new event on the WISPA calendar when she beat top-seeded New Zealander Louis Crome to 9-5, 9-2, 5-9, 3-9, 9-3.

In the semi-finals, Swartz brushed aside Elise Ng, the No5 seed from Hong Kong, 9-2, 9-4, 9-0 in 27 minutes - while third seed Manetta needed more than twice the time to see off local star Margriet Huisman 9-4, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6.

In the final, the South African controlled the tired-looking Manetta from start to finish with her fighting mentality and great drop shots. After 33 minutes of impressive squash, Tenille Swartz claimed the first tournament title of her career 9-4, 9-3, 9-5.

It was a victory which is sure to see the Dutch-based teenager, who is currently ranked 134 in the world, make her top 100 debut in the next WISPA world rankings.

Final:
[Q] Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt [3] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-4, 9-3, 9-5 (33m)