Tasmanian Open SF: Malaysia and Hong Kong To Contest Both Finals

The finals of the City of Devonport Tasmanian Open will both see battles between Malaysian and Hong Kong players, after one from each made it through to both finals on Saturday afternoon at the Devonport Squash Club in Tasmania, Australia.

In the men’s event, Malaysias Addeen Idrakie took on the tournament’s upset king, in Switzerland’s Robin Gadola. The Swiss player had already defeated compatriot and No.7 seed Yannick Wilhelmi, along with beating top seed Muhammad Asim Khan in his opening match of the competition.

It looked like history might repeat itself in the semi-final as well, as Gadola took the first game 11-7. From there, though, the Malaysian was able to put his stamp on the contest, winning the next two games quite comfortably to flip the match on its head. The fourth game was tight, but Idrakie came through it 11-9 to book his spot in the final. 

He will now face Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau, the tournament’s No.2 seed, in the final of the event, after Lau got the better of Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue. Like Idrakie, the Hongkonger also fell behind in his semi-final contest, losing the first game 11-6. He fought back to win in four, to advance to his second Tour final in as many weeks, and will look to win back-to-back titles in Australia.

Following in the same pattern in her semi-final was Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong, as she got the better of Australia’s Jessica Turnbull. The home hope won the first game, but a second game tie-break went the way of Tong, which turned the momentum in her favour, and she then strolled to the victory. The Hongkonger dropped just ten points across the next two games, booking her place in the final.

She will face Malaysia’s Chan Yiwen, the No.3 seed for the women’s competition, in the final on Sunday afternoon. Yiwen defeated Australia’s No.6 seed Alex Haydon in the last four, taking an early two-game lead and never looking like losing it. She won the first two games comfortably, and although the Aussie fought back to win the third, the Malaysian regrouped to take the fourth to advance.

The finals of the City of Devonport Tasmanian Open will take place on Sunday, September 11, with the winners of the Challenger 10 level tournament being crowned in Devonport.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: City of Devonport Tasmanian Open
[3] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Robin Gadola (SUI) 3-1: 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (50m)
[2] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) bt Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 3-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (41m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, September 11
[3] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) v [2] Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: City of Devonport Tasmanian Open
[3] Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt [6] Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 (32m)
[2] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt [7] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 3-1: 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (49m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, September 11
[3] Chan Yiwen (MAS) v [2] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)