B&T Auckland Open: Turnbull Victorious, Williams Make It Four

The Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open concluded earlier today in New Zealand, with Evan Williams securing the men’s title to make it four in a row on the Challenger Tour, and to take his third title in the month of May.

He previously claimed the Henderson Rochelle Hobbs Open, before winning the Waikato Open and Panmure Tecnifibre Open this month, and with an epic victory over Temwa Chileshe in the final of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open, he is now the only player to have secured four titles in 2021.

Meanwhile, Jessica Turnbull took her second crown of the month, following a victory at the North Coast Open, as she got the better of top seed Sarah Cardwell in four games to take the victory.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was restricted to only those currently living in either Australia or New Zealand, with only players representing those nations entering the competition.

In the 16-strong women’s draw, No.2 seed Turnbull began her campaign against Katie Templeton, and lost just eight points across the entire match, showing she meant business. That form continued into the quarter-finals, knocking out No.7 seed Ella Lash.

The Aussie then got the better of New Zealand No.1 Emma Millar in the last four, winning 3-1, to set up a clash with compatriot, and flatmate, Sarah Cardwell. Turnbull took the victory in four, securing her second title in three weeks.

Williams made his way through to the final after receiving a bye through the opening round. He then downed wildcard Chris van der Salm and Finn Trimble to make it into the last four. Once again, it would come down to Williams against the Chileshe brothers.

The Kiwi no.1 took on Lwamba Chileshe in the semis, beating the No.4 seed in straight games, before taking on younger sibling Temwa in the final. Chileshe had five match balls in the deciding game, but the World No.86 was able to save them all before winning it on a tie-break 14-12 to claim his fourth title of the calendar year.

Results: Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Open
Men’s Final
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [6] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 3-2: 9-11, 13-11, 15-13, 11-13, 14-12

Women’s Final
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6

Men’s Semi-Finals
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [4] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-4
[6] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [7] Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8

Women’s Semi-Finals
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Lana Harrison (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [3] Emma Millar (NZL) 3-1: 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5

Men’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt Finn Trimble (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-2
[4] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt [5] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
[6] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [3] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 3-2: 3-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7
[7] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt [2] Joseph White (AUS) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 2-11, 13-11

Women’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [5] Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-1: 11-3, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5
Lana Harrirson (NZL) bt [4] Abbie Palmer (NZL) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 12-10
[3] Emma Millar (NZL) bt [6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 3-1: 11-6, 11-3, 14-16, 11-6
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [7] Ella Lash (NZL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-9

Men’s Round Two
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [WC] Chris van der Salm (NZL) 3-1: 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3
Finn Trimble (NZL) bt [8] Sion Wiggin (NZL) 3-1: 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8
[5] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) bt William Donnelly (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
[4] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Zac Millar (NZL) 3-1: 11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 11-6
[3] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Benjamin Adams (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
[6] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt Mason Smales (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
[7] Joel Arcott (NZL) bt Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) 3-0: 13-11, 11-2, 11-5
[2] Joesph White (AUS) bt Joe Smythe (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-2

Women’s Round One
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Kayti Carrick (NZL) 3-0: 11-1, 11-6, 11-2
[5] Alex Haydon (AUS) bt [WC] Tyler Duberly (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-2
Lana Harrison (NZL) bt [8] Winona-Jo Joyce (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-4
[4] Abbie Palmer (NZL) bt Natalie Sayes (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
[3] Emma Millar (NZL) bt [WC] Juee Bhide (NZL) 3-0: 15-13, 11-7, 11-8
[6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt Grace Hymers (NZL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-7
[7] Ella Lash (NZL) bt [WC] Rebecca Barnett (NZL) 3-2: 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-5
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Katie Templeton (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-3

Men’s Round One
[WC] Chris van der Salm (NZL) bt Damon Macmillan (AUS) 3-0: 12-10, 12-10, 11-3
Finn Trimble (NZL) bt Glenn Templeton (NZL) 3-1: 13-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6
William Donnelly (NZL) bt [WC] Lance Beddoes (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-7
Zac Millar (NZL) bt [WC] Matthew Lucente (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
Benjamin Adams (NZL) bt Apa Fatialofa Junior (NZL) 3-1: `1-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
Mason Smales (NZL) bt Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-2: 1-11, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3
Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) bt Riley-Jack Vette-Blomquist (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-3
Joe Smythe (NZL) bt Leo Fatialofa (NZL) 3-2: 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6