GWC Squash House: Stefanoni Wins On Home Soil

USA’s Marina Stefanoni came through as the tournament’s top seed to win the GWC Squash House Challenger in Greenwich, Connecticut, beating Colombia’s Laura Tovar in the final on Monday evening.

The American came into the Challenger 5 level tournament as the home favourite and the top seed, and she started with a confident performance against compatriot Caroline Fouts. She got the better of her fellow American in straight games, including winning the third game without dropping a point, as she got her campaign off to the perfect start.

Stefanoni then defeated younger sister Lucie, the competition’s No.6 seed, in a four-game battle in the quarter finals, before overcoming India’s Akanksha Salunkhe in the last four. The Indian was the No.3 seed, but after a first game tie-break, the American had the momentum, and was able to win in three.

The 19-year-old carried on her form into the final, where she came up against the tournament’s surprise package, Colombia’s Laura Tovar. The No.7 seed had taken down Nash Cup winner Zeina Zein and No.2 seed Torrie Malik to reach the final, but Stefanoni was too good on Monday evening. The American dropped just 15 points to win 11-7, 11-3, 11-5, claiming the title on home soil.

Thanks to the victory in Greenwich on Monday, Stefanoni has maintained her 100% record in finals on the PSA Challenger Tour, and now has six wins from six finals at the age of just 19.

Results: GWC Squash House Challenger
Final
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [7] Laura Tovar (COL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5

Semi-Finals
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [3] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-0: 12-10, 11-2, 11-9
[7] Laura Tovar (COL) bt [2] Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-4

Quarter Finals
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [6] Lucie Stefanoni (USA) 3-1: 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7
[3] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [8] Hannah Blatt (CAN) 3-1: 11-0, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4
[7] Laura Tovar (COL) bt [4] Zeina Zein (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 11-5, 4-11, 11-6
[2] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt Julia Le Coq (FRA) 3-1: 10-12, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7

First Round
[1] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Caroline Fouts (USA) 3-0; 11-6, 11-7, 11-0
[6] Lucie Stefanoni (USA) bt Diana Gasca (MEX) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
[8] Hannah Blatt (CAN) bt Anastasiia Kostiukova (UKR) 3-1: 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9
[3] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt Zaynab Khan (PAK) 3-0: 12-10, 11-1, 11-6
[4] Zeina Zein (EGY) bt Lara Varma (USA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-1, 11-2
[7] Laura Tovar (COL) bt Arisha Khan (USA): Walkover
Julia Le Coq (FRA) bt [5] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[2] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt Sohaila Ismail (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4