Waikato Open: Williams & Watts Take Second Wins Of 2021

Evan Williams and Kaitlyn Watts have secured their second victories of the calendar year, with success at the Waikato Open in Hamilton this weekend.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Challenger 3 level tournament was restricted to domestic-only entrants, meaning only players based in New Zealand were allowed to play.

Both Williams and Watts came into this event with a victory to their name already in 2021. World No.84 Williams won the Henderson Rochelle Hobbs Open, while Watts took the title at the Royal Oak Open.

Like that final, the 20-year-old Watts came up against top seed Emma Millar this weekend at the Hamilton Squash & Tennis Club, and once again, she came out on top to secure her second crown of the year.

She found herself 2-1 down in the final against the World No.97, but the 20-year-old, who sits at World No.234, fought back to take the victory, winning the final two games comfortably to win the final 3-2.

The men’s final was more comfortable for Evan Williams, who got the better of Temwa Chileshe in four games. Chileshe was coming off two tough five-game battles, and the top seed of the tournament used that to his advantage.

Williams quickly moved into a two-game lead, and although Chileshe fought back to take the third, the World No.84 claimed the title in four to secure the eighth victory of his career.

Results: Waikato Open
Men’s Final
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [3] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6

Women’s Final
[4] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [1] Emma Millar (NZL) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 11-8

Men’s Semi-Finals
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [7] William Donnelly (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-4
[3] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [2] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-2: 4-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6

Women’s Semi-Finals
[1] Emma Millar (NZL) bt [7] Natalie Sayes (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6
[4] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [2] Abbie Palmer (NZL) 3-0: 13-11, 11-5, 11-8

Men’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [5] Sion Wiggin (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-8
[7] William Donnelly (NZL) bt [4] Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-1: 13-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8
[3] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt [6] Zac Millar (NZL) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-9
[2] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt [8] Glenn Templeton (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6

Women’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Emma Millar (NZL) bt [5] Winona-Jo Joyce 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-8
[7] Natalie Sayes (NZL) bt [3] Lauren Clarke (NZL) 3-2: 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6
[4] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [8] Sophie Hodges (NZL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-5
[2] Abbie Palmer (NZL) bt Tracey Kimble (NZL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-5

Men’s Round One
[5] Sion Wiggin (NZL) bt Joe Smythe (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
[7] William Donnelly (NZL) bt [WC] Matthew Lucente (NZL) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6
[4] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt Finn Trimble (NZL) 3-1: 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3
[3] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) bt Mason Smales (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5
[6] Zac Millar (NZL) bt Benjamin Adams (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-1
[8] Glenn Templeton (NZL) bt Gabe Yam (NZL) 3-0: 12-10 rtd
[2] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt Braedyn Henderson (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-9

Women’s Round One
[1] Emma Millar (NZL) bt Dora Galloway (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
[5] Winona-Jo Joyce (NZL) bt Leah Hodges (NZL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 13-11
[7] Natalie Sayes (NZL) bt Ashlee Pepper (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
[3] Lauren Clarke (NZL) bt Ashleigh Matthews (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
[4] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt Nadia Hubbard (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-7
[8] Sophie Hodges (NZL) bt Kayti Carrick (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
Tracey Kimble (NZL) bt [6] Katie Templeton (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-7
[2] Abbie Palmer (NZL) bt Grace Hymers (NZL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-3, 11-4