Briggs Captures Carcassonne Crown

Lauren Briggs beat Denmark's Line Hansen in the final of the Women's Carcassonne City Open to become the second successive English winner of the $11,000 WISPA World Tour squash title in its ninth year at the Acacia Club in the French medieval city of Carcassonne.

Briggs, the top seed from London, had to beat compatriot Vicky Hynes in the semi-finals after the unseeded 27-year-old from Birmingham - winner of the title seven years ago - upset two seeds to reach the last four.

Second seed Hansen put paid to an all-English final when she beat third seed Sarah Kippax in the other semi.

The final was a close-fought affair, with no more than a point between the pair until the end of the first two games.

By the third, Hansen was showing signs of wear, and Briggs stepped up the pace to claim her 9-6, 9-6, 9-3 in one minute short of an hour.

"I am very, very, very, pleased," said Briggs later. "I always knew it was going to be tough. For the last few months I have not been playing very well so this win is a real confidence booster," added the 28-year-old, who now celebrates her fourth WISPA Tour title, but the first for more than two years.

Runner-up Hansen said: "I was happy for patches of the match - but I lose concentration after a bad shot and I lose a few more. I cannot afford that. It was disappointing not to win a game but she kept picking up the ball and putting me under pressure," explained the 25-year-old from Odense after her first Tour final appearance of the year.

Final:
[1] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [2] Line Hansen (DEN) 9-6, 9-6, 9-3 (59m)