Double Scottish Delight In Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open Semi-Finals

The finals of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open are set, with Wales’ Emily Whitlock and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis, the top two seeds, through to the women’s final at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, while Alan Clyne and Greg Lobban will face off in the first all-Scottish final at a non-restricted PSA World Tour event in eight years.

Scotland’s Alan Clyne is through to the final in Dublin for the third time in his career, after a strong performance saw him defeat a higher seed for the second day in succession, this time overcoming the challenge of the tournament’s No.5 seed, Frenchman Auguste Dussourd.

The World No.48 made it into the semis after a victory over top seed Patrick Rooney on Thursday, and he came up against Dussourd in the last four after the Frenchman had taken out compatriot Lucas Serme. Clyne continued to play some incredible squash, and with Dussourd clearly tired from the day before, the Scot was able to control the contest, winning in three to advance to the final.

Clyne made the final of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open in both 2012 and 2014, but saw himself on the losing side of both finals, losing out to Botswana’s Alister Walker and England’s Adrian Waller. This will also be his second Challenger 30 level final after the Northwestern Mutual Life Time Houston Open back in 2019.

“It is quite tough to back up after a big win yesterday. I played really well yesterday, and to play as well, if not better today, I am really happy because Auguste has been flying, he has had a good tournament. To beat him 3-0, I am delighted,” Clyne said.

“The Irish Open has been one of my favourite events and it hasn’t been on for a few years, so I was delighted to be able to come here. I seem to play some of my best squash here, so I am hoping to keep it going.

“There’s a lot of people I know, like the members of the club who remember me coming back and that is always nice to come back and speak to them. The court is very much the same and I am used to that as well. It is just good feelings when you’re used to the surroundings and you seem to play well!”

Clyne will now face compatriot Greg Lobban in tomorrow’s final, after his fellow Scot overcame No.2 seed George Parker in straight games. The pair had played four times before on Tour, with both men having won twice, the most recent coming at the Manchester Open in 2021, where Parker won 3-0.

This contest had the reverse scoreline though, as Lobban was able to back up his tough five-game win over another Englishman, Declan James, to push on and control the ’T’ against Parker. He dropped just ten points across the match, and will advance through to the final, where he will aim to win a second Challenger 30 level crown, following his victory at the HKFC PSA International Squash Open in 2019.

“Really stoked with that. I fully expected to be on court for 80 minutes like last like night. I played really well, backed it up physically really well, but more importantly, mentally as well,” the Scot said.

“I felt in control for the whole match, in terms of myself, not necessarily the squash. I felt great out there! Being an all-Scottish final is huge for Scottish Squash, and we would have taken it for sure, coming into this tournament. It has been a great week for both of us, we’re great mates off the court and we’re both happy for the other to be in the final.”

Meanwhile, the women’s final will be between the top two seeds, as both Welshwoman Emily Whitlock and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis came through their respective last four matches, with the latter taking out the adopted home favourite, No.6 seed Alexandra Fuller, in a pulsating four-game battle at the Fitzwilliam Club.

The Belgian won the Challenger 30 level Annecy Rose Open last week, and is aiming to keep this title in the family after older sister Nele won the last edition of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open back in 2019. Her match with Fuller was one of two extremes, with three tie-breaks and an 11-0 game all in four games of action.

Gilis took the first game on a tie-break 13-11, and was able to push on in the second, running out into a big lead early on. She went on to win it 11-0, but Fuller fought back, and with the crowd at the Fitzwilliam Club right behind her, she took the third. She then had her chances to win the fourth game as well, but the Belgian saved two game balls en route to a second 13-11 win, and ultimately, the match.

“I am very relieved. It was a very hard match against Alex. She is the home favourite. She trains here, her coach is here, her parents are here, her boyfriend is here, she had the whole crowd behind her and it is always hard playing the home favourite,” Gilis explained.

“I played really well the second game. It is not that she did anything wrong, I just think that my shots were working. I didn’t make any mistakes but I knew she was 2-0 down, she had nothing to lose. She was going to come back strongly and that’s what she did. She played so well in the third and put me under pressure. I managed to find a way through to win this battle, so I am very happy and I am very excited to play another final tomorrow.”

Gilis will face women’s top seed Emily Whitlock in Saturday’s final in Dublin, after the Welshwoman overcame the unseeded Grace Gear in straight games in the opening match of the evening’s play. The Englishwoman had already taken out two seeded players to reach the last four, but Whitlock showed her class to me through unscathed.

The World No.19 played her typical game, and with errors coming from the racket of the young Englishwoman, Whitlock was in control in each of the three games in their contest. She won 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in 31 minutes to advance to her biggest final on Tour to date.

“I did what I had to do I think. I don’t think I played as well as yesterday, but a lot of that is to do with the fact that it was a good game yesterday, extras that come with a good performance, a bit like a hangover feeling maybe. A bit faded, but I did what I had to do,” Whitlock said.

“It was solid enough and I think I put Grace under some pressure, and her giving me a few errors helped me a little bit, but it was good to get another match on that court, especially with me playing tomorrow.”

The finals of the Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open will take place on Saturday, April 23, with action coming from the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. Play will start at 14:30 (GMT+1), with it all live on SQUASHTV.

Men’s Semi-Final Results: Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open
[7] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [5] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)
[4] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [2] George Parker (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-1, 11-2 (33m)

Men’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 23
[7] Alan Clyne (SCO) v [4] Greg Lobban (SCO)

Women’s Semi-Final Results: Cannon Kirk Irish Squash Open
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [6] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 3-1: 13-11, 11-0, 10-12, 13-11 (55m)

Women’s Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, April 23
[1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) v [2] Tinne Gilis (BEL)