Weaver Reaches Maiden Gold Final At Black Ball Open After Clinical Gilis Victory

World No.9 Olivia Weaver advanced to her first PSA World Tour Gold final after defeating Tinne Gilis in comprehensive style at the Black Ball Open.

The No.2 seed played a near-perfect match against Gilis, making just two errors throughout the straight games victory, which she sealed after 26 minutes of action. 

Despite World No.8 Gilis starting strongly and taking a 4-1 lead, the Belgian No.2 struggled to break Weaver down throughout the rest of the encounter. 

Weaver took a high position to fight back from this initial deficit in the first and take it 11-6, before doubling her lead by an 11-5 scoreline. Weaver continued to control proceedings on the T and showed brilliant control of her length game as she took an early lead in the third. 

From there, the match never looked in doubt, with Weaver moving to six match balls, and taking the encounter at the third time of asking. 

After the match, Weaver said: “I definitely played the game I wanted to today, and I had to against a player like Tinne. I’m very, very pleased with that performance and I’m very pleased how I got myself back into the match after falling 5-2 behind in the first.

“I mean to beat a player like Tinne, who’s so tough and so gritty, I couldn’t be more pleased with that performance.

“In college I would watch the Black Ball event when I was procrastinating and doing my work and now to be here and playing in the final is pretty crazy. It’s an incredible atmosphere to be playing in and a brilliant place to play, so I’m really excited to be in the final and to give myself another shot at a title this season.”

Result:

[2] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [4] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)