Cleveland Classic 2023 Final: Kennedy Retains Cleveland Classic Title

England’s Georgina Kennedy has retained her Cleveland Classic crown after defeating Olivia Clyne of America 3-1 in the 2023 decider.

Kennedy, who defeated her compatriot Sarah-Jane Perry at last year’s event, continued her rich vein of form to land the Cleveland Classic title in successive years after reaching the quarter-finals at the Tournament of Champions and scooping the Carol Weymuller Open trophy. 

The pair had only met twice on the PSA World Tour going into the final, with Kennedy winning both previous encounters. Both players made a strong start to the opening game as the pace turned up a few notches at the tail-end.

Kennedy landed four successive points to go 9-7 up, but Clyne saved two game balls to force a tiebreaker. Kennedy was able to eventually pull away from Clyne to clinch the opener 13-11.

It was neck and neck in the second with the scores locked at 7-7, but Kennedy was able establish some crucial breathing space to nudge 10-8 in front, and the World No.11 converted game ball at the first attempt to go 2-0 up.

Kennedy came firing out of the blocks in the third as she looked to seal the title in straight games but Clyne, making her first appearance in a final since 2019, responded superbly as she halved the deficit after winning 11-7.

Losing the third fired the defending champion up, moving into a 6-2 lead, but Clyne surged back to reduce the arrears to two points. However Kennedy was able to hold off the fightback from Clyne to convert Championship ball at the first time of asking and make it back-to-back titles in Cleveland.

Afterwards Kennedy said: “I’m thrilled to have retained the title. I’ve said it a few times this week but I definitely did not expect it. 

“Coming into this event with the strength of the draw, the fact that I made it to the final is a huge achievement for me and I knew it would be an extremely good battle with Liv (Clyne). 

“She’s been playing amazing squash – I watched her match yesterday and I was definitely worried. She’s so attacking and puts you under so much pressure, so I’m really proud of myself for coming through that because that really could have gone either way.”

Kennedy and Clyne head to Detroit next for the DAC Pro Squash Classic, a silver-level event, which takes place between February 7-11 at the Detroit Athletic Club. All the action will be streamed live on PSA channels.

Visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to keep up with the upcoming women’s DAC Pro Squash Classic and men’s Pittsburgh Open, which is taking place at the Rivers Club, 8-12 February.

Replays of tonight’s final will shortly be available on SQUASH.TV

Result

[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt Olivia Clyne (USA) 3-1: 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6 (45m)