Crowd spurs Devoy on to win Open

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 72

Crowd spurs Devoy on to win Open

By

TIM DUNBAR

in Auckland

If Susan Devoy needed any further motivation during her Honda women’s world championship win over Lisa Opie, of England, at the Auckland Y.M.C.A. last evening it was provided by the balloon floating in her corner which read: “Take no prisoners Susan.”

The match was before a full gallery which sup- i ported Devoy fervently all i the way. Devoy won her < second World Open, 9-3, 10-8, 9-2, in only 39 minutes. In spite of the relative shortness of the final Devoy’s coach, Bryce Taylor, called it her toughest win by far. He said that because of the home crowd she wanted to win .as much for. other people‘as for herself. Devoy, who made an emotional speech to the crowd, after the match, said she did .not know what she would have done had she lost. "It’s just fantastic, a relief more than anything. It has been a long week — a long month.” Devoy’s backhand drops have never worked better, especially at the front of the court, where she worked herself into position superbly.

She had Opie covering a lot of court early on and within lOmin Opie was starting to feel the pace. But there were some anxious moments in the second game when Opie slowed the ball down superbly throwing up high risk lobs only a matter of centimetres in court. Opie twice held game balls at 8-6 and Devoy only saved one of them after a long rally which ended with a backhand drop winner. Eventually Devoy scraped home, 10-8, Opie hitting the tin with successive drop shots. Mr Taylor said that Devoy had gone walkabout. “She eased off the pace and dropped her length by a yard.” With Devoy two games up there was no stopping her. Mr Taylor told her to put the heat on. “If you get a sniff of it go for the tape.”

Devoy, with victory in sight, made certain she kept the game hard and fast in a bid to keep Opie pinned behind her. It worked perfectly and the game was all over in just eight minutes, Devoy i winning the last four ; points in one hand with yet more backhand drops i and some irretrievable i length drives. i When it was over Devoy raised her arms in the air in delight and sheer relief, embraced her husband, John Oakley, in a huge bear hug and, as ever never forgetting her supporters, waved to all sections of the crowd. When the media finally got to talk to Devoy she seemed as pleased as ] much by the way she had played as by the fact that ! she had won. 1 “I really came out and ] played squash this week, i Sometimes I just hang in < there.” I

She took the chance to thank Opie for her game, saying: “Lisa, I’m sorry it had to be you because you are such a good friend.” With her win Devoy now has two World Opens, equal with the Australian great, Heather McKay, as well as her four consecutive British Opens and still no-one appears likely to threaten her world crown. In the play-off for third and fourth Liz Irving had a marathon 77min 9-6, 108, 9-10, 9-6 win over Vicki Cardwell, one of the Australian selectors who inexplicably failed to include Irving in the side for the team’s event which begins today. Other results:— Classic plate final: Mary Byrne (Ireland) beat Babette Hoogendoom (Netherlands) 9-4, 9-0, 9-7. Open plate: Flavia Roberts (England) beat Alex Cowie (England) 9-10, 9-5, 8-10, 9-4, 9-4.