WJC Day 1 Wrap - Curtis, Lyon into the third round
Published Tue 18 Jul 2023
Two Australians are still alive going into the third round of the 2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships after a long opening day which saw 140 matches decided at Melbourne Sports Centres.
Following the opening session where five local hopes were eliminated, seven Australians lined up in the second round this afternoon hoping to make it through to the final 32.
Three-time Australian Junior Open U19 champion Oscar Curtis continued his strong form from the opening round, accounting for Irish hope Jack O’Flynn 3-0 (11-8, 11-1, 11-6).
The West Australian knew it would be a tough encounter and was pleased with how he stuck to his strategy even when under pressure.
“It was a tough match, I wasn’t too sure how I was going because he’s a good player,” said Curtis. “I just stuck at it and got up.
“I’m happy I’m playing at this level, I’m playing attacking squash. I keep it consistent, I keep at it, I’m not going passive.”
Also making it through to the third round was team co-captain Madison Lyon who didn’t have it all her way when she made it onto the glass court late in the day.
With a bye into the second round, the Queenslander spent most of the day away from the venue and arrived ready for action.
After a momentum swing in the first game saw her slip behind, the regathered herself in a commanding second game to even the ledger. It was just the beginning of a see-sawing affair which eventually saw her defeat Malaysia’s Anrie Goh Chu Yu 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8).
Speaking after the match, Lyon hopes she has can put the inconsistency of today’s performance aside for a third round clash with Egypt’s Nadien Elhammamy.
“It wasn’t what I wanted but I got the job done and that’s the main thing,” said Lyon. “It definitely took a lot for me to stay in that because I just wasn’t feeling it today.
“I prefer to get all of the bad stuff out now, and then hopefully it works out better for the next round.”
Curtis and Lyon are the only Australians through to the last 32 after the other Australian players still in the second round draw were unable to progress.
In one of the most-enthralling matches of the opening day, co-captain Erin Classen (WA) fought back from a number of match balls down to win a 36-point fourth game, but was unable to outlast Canada’s Ocean Ma who claimed the 3-2 win.
Brother Dylan Classen (WA) was defeated by Malaysia’s Low Wa-Sern in three games to leave Curtis as the only Australian male left in the draw.
In matches played late in the day, American Sonya Sasson defeated Victoria’s Amelie Guziak, England’s Amelie Haworth beat Shona Coxsedge and Egyptian second seed Fayrouz Abouelkheir was too strong for Hannah Slyth, which sees Lyon as the last Australian in the women’s draw.
Day two action begins on Wednesday at 11am AEST with the Glass Court, Court 6 and Court 9 being live streamed via WorldSquash.TV.
Click here for draws and results.
2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships
Day 1 - Tuesday 18 July 2023
Australian Team - Second Round Results
Low Wa-Sern (MAS) d Dylan Classen (WA) 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5)
Oscar Curtis (WA) d Jack O’Flynn (IRE) 3-0 (11-8, 11-1, 11-6)
Ocean Ma (CAN) d Erin Classen (WA) 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 17-19, 12-10)
Madison Lyon (QLD) v Anrie Goh Chu Yu (MAS) 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8)
Sonya Sasson (USA) d Amelie Guziak (VIC) 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-8)
[9/16] Amelie Haworth (ENG) d Shona Coxsedge (QLD) 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 11-1)
[2] Fayrouz Abouelkheir (EGY) d Hannah Slyth (WA) 3-0 (11-3, 11-1, 11-2)
