Alison Waters - 'Squash Professional'

‘A Word from Alison’ (May 12th)

The Alison Waters Team — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:17:48 +0000

I have had a good weeks training ahead of the British Open starting on Tuesday. The week started off well with my Premier League Team winning the title on Tuesday night down at Guildford. I lost my match to Laura Massaro 3-1 but the team did brilliantly and we made history by being the first team to win the league three years in a row! It was a great night and a really good atmosphere.

So I’m all set for the British Open. It’s great to have the event back on the calendar after a few years absence and its one tournament that I really want to win. I remember when I was younger going to watch when it was on at Wembley and I absolutely loved it. Going down after each match to collect autographs is something I always remember. To be playing in the event again and especially as it’s on in my home town London and at the O2 makes it even more special.

First round we are playing at the great St Georges hill club on the glass court there. I had a practice on it on Friday and it’s a nice court, pretty fast and lively. I’m playing Malaysian Low Wee Wern who I don’t think I have played before in a WSA event.

Can’t wait to get started! The British Open is back!!

‘A Word from Alison’ (6th May)

The Alison Waters Team — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:16:04 +0000

We all had a great week in Nuremberg for the European teams, winning both the men’s and women’s events. This was the goal at the start of the week and even though on paper we should have won we still have to go there and do the job, which we did!

The Guys beat France in the final and us girls played a good Irish team winning 2-1. Had a fun dinner and celebration afterwards to round the event off. Great week with lots of good banter going around!!

Back home now and I have a week’s training before the British open starting next Tuesday. First round at St George’s Hill!

First up though is the Premier League final down in Guildford on Tuesday night. It’s a repeat of last year’s final and is against St George’s! Should be some great matches…….with hopefully a repeat of last year result as well!!

‘A Word From Alison’ (1st May 2012)

The Alison Waters Team — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:03:36 +0000

I had a great week in Dublin and was delighted that I won the tournament. It was the second time I have won it was well! It must be my lucky tournament!

I came through 2 matches of qualifying and then had two good wins in the semi-final and final, winning both 3-0 against the current number 3 and 4 in the world (Madeline Perry and Laura Massaro). I was really really pleased and it feels good knowing that I’m back playing and beating the top players!

Off to Germany tomorrow for the European Team Championships and am really looking forward to representing England again! I have missed the event for the last two years due to injury so can’t wait to get back into action again for England!

Come on England!!!

Alison ‘wins’ Irish Open 2012 (23rd – 28th April)

The Alison Waters Team — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:16:34 +0000

Final:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Madeline Perry (1)
11/4, 11/4, 12/10 (3-0)

Semi Finals:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Laura Massaro (2)
11/9, 11/9, 12/10 (3-0)

Quarter Finals:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Onmeya Abdel Kawy (4)
11/13, 11/4, 11/3, 13/11 (3-1)

Round 1:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Line Hansen (8)
11/8, 11/6, 11/4 (3-0)

Qualifying Finals:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Sarah-Jane Perry
11/3, 11/6, 11/1 (3-0)

Qualifying Round 1:
Alison Waters (Q) beat Claire O’Brien
11/0, 11/2, 11/2 (3-0)

Article from Squash365.com

The women’s final promised to be a very close encounter between qualifier, although a former world No 3, Alison Waters, and the undisputed queen of Irish Squash Madeline Perry, the No1 seed and the current World No 4. Unfortunately for the capacity crowd here at Fitzwilliam the match was not as close as was expected, with Alison taking control from the start and dictating play somewhat, but with both ladies playing with great athleticism and grace, she took the first two games in what appeared quite comfortable style 11/4 each. Madeline seemed to be struggling a little with her movement, which she explained afterwards was due to very bad blisters on her feet, but she came back into the match much better in the third to take a well earned 7/2 lead, but slowly Alison bit into the lead to take a match ball at 10/9, and although Madeline saved that first one, thanks to a tin from Alison, Alison then took the extra points for a 12/10 win and a 3 – 0 match score in 40 minutes.

Alison – ”Delighted to have won here again in Dublin, to have beaten both Laura and Madeline along the way makes it feel really good. I feel as though I am getting back to somewhere near my best as I was before my injury and now I just want to get back to the top of the rankings again”

Reports and Results can be found at Squashsite

Back home from Canada

The Alison Waters Team — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:27:30 +0000

I had a great two weeks in Canada and was really pleased to win both the events I played in! First stop was Montreal and I had a tough battle with Kasey Brown in the final in a match lasting 85mins! It was good to play a tough match like that and even better to get the win!

Then it was a quick flight over to Toronto where I played in the Granite Open! I won the final beating Latasha Khan 3-0. It was great to win the first ever tournament they have held at the club and I was pleased not to drop a game all tournament!

So I’m back home now for a few days of rest and then a good three weeks of training before I go to Dublin for the Irish Open! It’s a tournament I really enjoy playing and one I won a few years ago so it hold some good memories for me!!

For now it’s relaxing and it feels good to be home!!

Alison xx

Alison wins ‘Granite Club Open 2012′ (Toronto)

The Alison Waters Team — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:47:43 +0000

25th-29th March 2012

Finals:
Alison Waters (4) beat Latasha Khan (USA)
11/3, 11/8, 11/3 (3-0)

Semi Finals:
Alison Waters (4) beat (2) Siyoli Waters (RSA)
11/5, 11/4, 11/4 (3-0)

1/4 Finals:
Alison Waters (4) beat Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL)
11/7, 11/8, 11/7 (3-0)

1st Round:
Alison Waters (4) beat (Q) Nayelly Hernandez (Mex)
11/2, 11/5, 11/4 (3-0)

‘The Granite Girls’ report on the final:

Alison comes out strong, showing no mercy to dominate the first game.

Her amazing gets and terrific volley drops left Latasha scrambling
from left to right. In the second game Latasha stepped up her game
and gave Alison a run for her money.

The spectators’ jaws dropped watching the long, intense rallies. But
it was Alison who managed to pull out a close game, going up 2-0.
Stepping on to the court for the third game, Alison looked
determined to close the game in 3.

Alison punished Latasha with her attacking volleys, tight length,
and high pace. Latasha gave it all she had but it was not enough to
beat the former world number 3.

With a hold and flick from the back left corner, Alison became the
first champion of the hopefully annual Granite Club Open!

The crowd was huge and very appreciative of the high-quality play.
Now everyone’s enjoying the two free kegs! Cheers

More information about the Tournament can be found at Squashsite

Alison wins ‘Atwater Cup 2012′ (Montreal)

The Alison Waters Team — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:14:21 +0000

23rd March, Final:
Alison Waters (Eng) bt [1] Kasey Brown (Aus)
7/11, 11/5, 9/11, 11/6, 11/3 (85m)

22nd March, Semi-Finals:
Alison Waters bt [2] Joey Chan 11/3, 11/3, 11/7 (32m)

Tournament Director Glen Wilson reports:

After a year out of action with injury, but having given note that she was back to somewhere near her best form as she finished runner-up in last month’s British National Championships, England’s Alison Waters returned to the WSA fray and, unseeded after seeing her ranking slip from top five to 35, captured her fifth career WSA title (out of 95 tournaments).

This was the match everyone had been waiting for. Kasey Brown the world number 7 against Alison Waters the former world number 3 and we weren’t disappointed.

Brown started the better, settling into her game nicely. Waters was a little loose which enabled Brown to take advantage of the middle and place Waters under some pressure. Some long exchanges where both players were being very patient, but Brown had the upper hand early on taking the first.

In the second Waters came out firing, hitting the ball a lot harder and mixing it up more, moving Brown around the court. Brown’s defence was solid but Waters had found a few chinks in the Australian’s armour and was able to hit some nice winners from her sustained pressure. Waters levels it at one all.

The third was a real fight, both players didn’t want to give anything away. Point for point and then at 9 all the best rally of the tournament. Over 150 shots of both players moving the ball around, working each other like crazy to try and reach that game ball.

Brown picked up some spectacular balls to the astonishment of the crowd. Waters must have thought she had won the point 2 or 3 times. Finally it ended with Waters hitting a tin as both players bent over and walked a few lengths of the court to gain their breath. The next rally was another long exchange and an unforced error by Waters had Brown up 2/1. The crowd were very much involved, eager for the girls to get back on court in this highly entertaining match.

The fourth was pretty close at the start, but Waters’ working boast and ability to hold the ball had Brown covering a lot of ground. From 5/4 Waters pulled clear and closed it out setting up a grandstand finish for the sold out crowd.

Waters came out strong in the 5th winning the first 6 points before Brown got on the scoreboard. Brown seemed a little flat and she didn’t look like she had the spring in her step from the previous games.

Brown had definitely slowed down as Waters was relentless with her pressure. The 5th was easy by the scoreline but the match overall was a game of skill, strategy and attrition and Waters thoroughly deserved her victory.

Brown can take a lot away from this match as she flies out to compete in Malaysia, and on this form Waters will be hard to beat in Toronto next week.

Atwater Cup 2012 – 1st Round and 1/4 Finals

The Alison Waters Team — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:39:25 +0000

1st Round: Alison Waters beat Emma Beddoes 10/12, 11/5, 11/9, 11/7 (3-1)

1/4 Finals: Alison Waters beat Aisling Blake 11/2, 11/4, 11/5 (3-0)

Tournament Director, Glen Wilson said on Alison’s 1/4 Final match:

”This was a very dominating performance by the former world number three. Waters started strong and never looked back. The pace was high and accurate and Blake had no answer to the relentless pressure she was being placed under.
A very convincing 3/0 win that had the crowd in awe of what was a very strong statement moving through to the semi finals”

Please visit the tournament website at http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/atwatercup2012.htm

Tournaments in Canada

The Alison Waters Team — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:14:28 +0000

I’m in Canada now for a two week trip. Montreal is the first stop then Toronto next week.

I am really enjoying Montreal. I’ve been here since Thursday as originally I was meant to be qualifying but then someone pulled out of the main draw so as I was the number one qualifier it put me straight into the main draw.

I’m staying with a great family who live only a 2 minute walk from the club which makes life easy.

The weather has been warm and sunny. I had packed lots of clothes for the cold weather as everyone expected it would be, but this seems to be there mildest winter and I’m still walking around in a big jumper…. not great!!!

The main round kicks of tomorrow and my first round match is against English player Emma Beddoes.

Looking forward to getting started now especially as today in 28 which means I’m wiser and mature right?? Maybe not… ha!

Ali

”Glad to see my train is still running on time, Choo Choo!!!”

The Alison Waters Team — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:22:06 +0000