Squash sensation and seven times Guyanese Sportswoman of the Year Nicolette Fernandes produced yet another giant killing run in her professional career before losing in the final of the Irish Open in Dublin last month. Fernandes, the sixth seed toppled second seed Samatha Teran on her way to the final where she bowed out to Ireland’s Madeline Perry, the top seed.
Perry won 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3 in a match that lasted one hour. In the first game Perry raced to a 10-2 lead before Fernandes found her rhythm which saw her taking a 9-5 lead in the second game only for Perry to come roaring back and take steal the second game from Fernandes.
Fernandes, though, was not going to give up without a fight and captured the third game before losing the fourth and the match.
“I don’t think I did much wrong in game four said Fernandes, “but Madeline was flying in that game and was just too good” stated Fernandes in a post match comment.
In the first round Fernandes defeated Australian qualifier Sarah Cardwell in straight games, 11/3, 11/3, 12/10 in a mere 38 minutes before once again getting the better of arch rival Teran of Mexico in the quarter-finals.
Fernandes defeated Teran, the tournament’s second seed 11/9, 11/9, 11/3 encounter.
In the her semi-final match against fourth seed Emily Whitlock of England, Fernandes won in straight games, 11/2, 11/9, 11/6 in a match that lasted 40 minutes.
