Cleveland Classic Preview: Kennedy Looks To Retain Title

The Cleveland Classic takes place from February 1-5, and England’s Georgina Kennedy will be aiming to retain her crown at the Cleveland Racquet Club.

The Englishwoman, who was ranked as the World No.17 for last year’s tournament, came through a stacked field to secure her first PSA World Tour title. She defeated the top three seeds, in compatriot Sarah-Jane Perry, India’s Joshna Chinappa and American Olivia Fiechter en route to glory.

She will also come into this tournament off the back of two good performances on American soil. Kennedy claimed her second PSA World Tour title at the start of January, when she lifted the Carol Weymuller Open crown, before going on to reach the last eight in New York City at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions.

It will be tougher for the Englishwoman this week in Cleveland, though, as she will go into the tournament as one of the 9/16 seeding bracket. This means she will not get a bye through the opening day’s action, and she may have to beat four of the world’s top 15 if she is going to retain her trophy.

“Last year was definitely one of the highlights of my career, winning that Bronze title for the first time. I knew that winning that title would put me into the top ten as well, so it was a huge moment for me,” Kennedy admitted.

“I have great memories of Cleveland and I am really looking forward to going back there. I like the fact that I am going back there as defending champion; it is obviously a different challenge this year. Before, I was hunting the top girls and now, I am being the one that is hunted, I guess. I am up for the challenge, I have had a good couple of weeks, winning the title in Brooklyn [the Carol Weymuller Open] and then reaching the quarters here [at the Tournament of Champions].

“I feel like I can still play better, I need to sharpen up on a few things for next week. It has been a long two weeks and I have three more tournaments back-to-back, so I need to be careful.

“Even though I won it last year, it is a completely different kettle of fish, it’s a different tournament, different players. It is tough being a 9/16 seed, I don’t even get a bye first round, so I have to go in straight away! 

“I am not used to that anymore, I am used to having a day off, watching the matches and seeing what’s going on, but I am looking forward to it. I just want to focus on the performance, other than the results. I still feel like I need to sharpen up my performances if I am going to defend that title.”

New Zealand’s Joelle King will be the top seed this week, as one of six members of the world’s top ten in action. Americans Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Fiechter will be among those fighting for glory, and will both be aiming to win on home soil this week. The other members of the American quartet that finished 2nd at the WSF Women’s World Team Championships, Sabrina Sobhy and Olivia Clyne, will also be in action.

Kennedy’s compatriot, Sarah-Jane Perry, along with Welshwoman Tesni Evans and the Belgian duo of Nele and Tinne Gilis will make up the rest of the top eight seeds for the competition, which will also feature Canadian Hollie Naughton, India’s Joshna Chinappa and Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern, the latter of whom continues her comeback from injury.

Action from the early rounds of the tournament will be shown live on the PSA World Tour website for free, with the semi-finals and finals being streamed live on SQUASHTV.

You will also be able to follow live scores from Detroit here. For more on the Cleveland Classic, you can visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Women’s Draw: Cleveland Classic
[1] Joelle King (NZL) – [Bye]
Hana Moataz (EGY) v [9/16] Jasmine Hutton (ENG)
[9/16] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[6] Olivia Fiechter (USA) – [Bye]
[5] Nele Gilis (BEL) – [Bye]
Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v [9/16] Olivia Clyne (USA)
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) – [Bye]
[4] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) – [Bye]
Tomato Ho (HKG) v [9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY)
[9/16] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[8] Tesni Evans (WAL) – [Bye]
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) – [Bye]
Aifa Azman (MAS) v [9/16] Georgina Kennedy (ENG)
[9/16] Emily Whitlock (WAL) v Melissa Alves (FRA)
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) – [Bye]