WORLD SQUASH NEWS
RESULTS: Bright Lights Women's Las Vegas Squash Open, Las Vegas, USA
Final:
[3] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [1] Linda Charman (ENG) 9-1, 9-5, 10-9 (46m)
Joyful Jackman Lands Las Vegas Jackpot
England's Cassie Jackman hit the jackpot for the second time in Las Vegas
when she upset top-seeded compatriot Linda Charman in straight games in the
final of the Bright Lights Women's Las Vegas Squash Open in Nevada, USA.
Jackman, the third seed and Las Vegas champion in 2000, was in sparkling form
and hardly made an unforced error until the third game, with her opponent
getting very little change despite playing well herself.
World No6 Jackman was finding nicks and driving the ball hard throughout the
match. In the third game, Charman began to use more width and float the ball
- a tactic which led to a comeback from 3/6 down. The world No3 from
Eastbourne saved a match ball at 7/8, then had two game balls of her own at
9/8 before Jackman moved to 9-all and clinched the match 9-1 9-5 10-9 when
Charman was left flapping at air as a fierce straight drive was too wide.
"I just wasn't penetrating enough early on and putting Cassie under
pressure," said a dejected Charman later. "Once I started to step forward
and volley more, I took it closer to the wire."
The new champion, celebrating her 22nd WISPA World Tour title, was overjoyed
with her performance - her second win over Charman in just over three weeks:
"I moved well today and felt quite sharp. Winning sets me up well for the
Texas Open this coming week," said Jackman after her 46-minute victory.
Jackman's Las Vegas success comes at the end of a remarkable three months for
the 30-year-old former world champion and world No1 from Norfolk who
underwent career-threatening back surgery - for the second time - last
September. On her return to the WISPA Tour in January, Jackman won the
Edinburgh Open in Scotland, and then the following month claimed the British
National trophy for the fourth time. Despite a punishing New Year schedule,
Jackman has only been beaten once - by world No2 Natalie Pohrer in the
Tournament of Champions in New York in February.