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Opie’s racket skills worry Devoy most

By

TIM DUNBAR in Auckland

When Susan Devoy played Lisa Opie, of England, in her first British Open squash final in 1984 the New Zealander’s supporters from the Oasis club in Buckinghamshire wore T-shirts with the cheeky inscription: “Opie, no hopie.”

Similar sentiments will no doubt be expressed by some when the pair meet again this evening in the Honda women’s world championship final at Auckland’s Y.M.C.A. Stadium, but Devoy is certainly not underestimating the threat of the English player. Devoy, seeking to retain the world title she won in Dublin in 1985, beating Opie, 9-4, 9-5, 10-8, in the final, says she is always wary. “I haven’t lost to her for a long time, but she’s probably, the one who troubles me the most” Opie, aged 24, is a shotplayer with marvellous racket skills, capable of hitting the nicks from all over the court Nor is she lacking in fitness or speed around the court. And she showed in her epic semi-final match against one <of the game’s great fighters, Vicki Cardwell, of Australia, on Sunday, that she is now able to discipline herself and not let her emotions take over.

Cardwell, who regards Opie as the player with the greatest array of shots in women’s squash, says she is capable of beating Devoy. “If she can keep it all together for one more match ...”

The English player, originally from Guernsey, knows that shots alone will not be enough; she will have to be prepared for rallying and a long time on court. While Opie has something of a reputation as a perennial bridesmaid — as runner-up in four British Opens (twice to Devoy, twice to Cardwell) and one World Open — she is a former world Junior champion and has

won both the Australian and Irish Opens. Devoy has been suffering a little more than usual from nerves during this tournament (though it hardly shows), playing at home with all the expectations of the New Zealand public adding to the pressures. But it is doubtful if the 23 year old has played better squash. She is hitting the ball crisply and very tightly, applies a relentless pace and the drop shots she loves to play have been right on target So far she has been little troubled — her fourth round match against fellow New Zealander, Joanne Williams, back on Friday being the only one to keep her on the court for longer than 30min; that lasted 53min. To compensate in part for the lack of court time Devoy had a lengthy “hit” on the clearview court yesterday afternoon with her New Zealand teammate, Donna Gurran. More one to concen-

trate on her own game rather than exhaustively studying that of her opponents, Devoy gave a very quick answer of "No” to the radio reporter who asked on Sunday if she was going to obtain

and analyse a video of the Opie-Cardwell semi-final. According to the English player, Alison Cumings, Devoy’s tournament only begins when she gets to the final. Now she is preparing to put everything into that one match left Devoy said that winning a British Open (she now has four of them) and winning a World Open had been her two big goals. The 1987 World

Open is* something different again. “This seems to have surpassed everything; it’s current and in New Zealand.’* In her corner she will have her coach, Bryce Taylor, who does much to help her mental attitude. “Bryce is so cool, calm and collected. He is the only person who knows how to motivate me,” Devoy said. “What he says makes so much sense.” One of the squash greats, Heather McKay, of Australia, will be one of the television commentators, should her health allow. At present full of antibiotics, Mrs McKay is fighting to overcome a hoarse voice. Mrs McKay, a remarkable 16 times winner of the British Open, is in Auckland for the women’s world masters championships at the North Shore club, in which she will contest the 45 to 49 years section. She is picking Devoy to win today’s final with the proviso that she plays well. “It’s going to be a

tough game." Obviously an admirer of the New Zealander’s skills and determination, Mrs McKay is also not ruling out an Opie win. "She is capable of winning for sure. She has the game (required)

as long as she puts it all together.” Devoy is prepared for a very hard final, lasting even hours or more, and it will take a supreme effort for Opie to beat her and uplift the $BOOO winner’s cheque. Devoy should win, possibly 3-1, and be holding aloft the world championship trophy before a large (New Zealand) gallery and live television audience.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19871006.2.185

Bibliographic details

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 60

Word Count
792

Opie’s racket skills worry Devoy most Press, 6 October 1987, Page 60

Opie’s racket skills worry Devoy most Press, 6 October 1987, Page 60