Former rival helps Devoy to Open win

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 40

Former rival helps Devoy to Open win

NZPA staff correspondent London A flurry of telephone calls between England and the South Pacific played a big part in setting New Zealand’s Susan Devoy up for an historic victory in yesterday’s British Open squash championships.

Devoy’s surprisingly comfortable 5-9, 9-0, 9-7, 9-1, victory over England’s Lisa Opie, the top seed, owed much to messages of support from New Zealand and words of advice from her Australian mentor, Vicki Cardwell.

“I had so many calls from home over the two days before the final that I knew that although I wanted to win it for myself, I also had to win it for New Zealand,” she said after giving her country its first British Open title. Devoy, aged 20, said her ideal way of celebrating victory would have been to go home immediately: “But I have to play in the World Cup doubles at the week-end so I’ll have to think of something else,” she said. As important as the messages of encouragement were tactical discussions with Cardwell, the 1980-83 British Open champion.

The now-retired Australian, who has helped Devoy’s charge up the world rankings, won her last two opens at the expense of Opie: “Vicki told me to sit on Lisa and she would make mistakes,” Devoy said. That was exactly how it worked out as Opie crumbled under the pressure of trying to bring Britain its first women’s Open title after 23 years of Australian domination.

Opie won the first game as Devoy’s immaculate length faltered briefly but the final was generally a one-sided affair. While Devoy maintained an impeccable calm in the heat of her first big final, Opie became increasingly distraught. She directed a V-

sign at the referee after losing the third game on a penalty stroke and ended the match in tears and throwing her racket out of the court.

Opie was officially warned for the V-sign and will appear before the Squash Rackets Association disciplinary committee. Throughout Opie’s tantrums Devoy remained the total professional: “I had never beaten Lisa before and recognised that I was the underdog and had everything to go for. “Lisa’s behaviour just meant that she lost concentration and I tried not to let it get to me,” she said.

Devoy, Rotorua-born but raised in Hamilton, said she had felt under more pressure in the quarter-final against Robyn Blackwood, the Aucklander whom she deposed as New Zealand No. 1 during her determined surge up the world rankings.

“I was a real cot case then. The New Zealand connection meant I felt under more pressure then than in the final or the semi-final against Rhonda Thorne,” she said. From the outset of the final, Devoy slipped into a near error-free rhythm. Her driving had a precision length and she quickly seized upon openings to hit quick winners with deft drops and angles. Opie, under almost constant pressure, was never able to employ her devastating short game.

“It was all about Sue hitting a good length and applying 80 per cent of the pressure,” said Devoy’s coach, Bryce Taylor.

Opie also never gained the expected home advantage from the crowd of 2700 people, a world record squash audience, at the Wembley conference centre. Supporters from the club at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where Devoy is based along with the Open semifinalist, Stuart Davenport, ensured the New Zealander was well backed. “Vicki warned that the crowd would be right behind Lisa so I made sure I brought along some rowdy people,” Devoy said.

The New Zealander’s delight was complete when the latest Women’s Squash Players Association rankings, applicable from today, listed her as the new world No. 1.

That success and victory in the British Open at just her third attempt — all accomplished while she is still rapidly improving — have staggered squash observers in England. “Because of her inexperience, Sue was not expected to win the Open this year. There seems no reason why she won’t win it plenty more times in the years ahead,” said Christina Myers, secretary of the Women’s Squash Rackets Association.

When the men’s rankings are published, it is also likely that Davenport’s success in reaching the semi-finals will see him promoted to third in the world.

The 20-year-old Wellingtonian is fifth at present but the failures in the Open of Gamal Awad (Egypt) and Hiddy Jahan (England) mean Davenport should jump above them.