16-year old Marina Stefanoni of the USA, left, won the 2019 Harneys BVI Squash Open tournament after defeating Daniela Schumann at Tortola Sports Club in the final on May 18, 2019. Photo: Provided

Participants of the Professional Squash Association’s Women’s Open. Photo: Provided

Zoe Sorrentino, left, beat Jane Wyllie in the Women’s Club Championships Final 2019. Photo: Provided

In the Exhibition Mixed Doubles played May 18, 2019, Daniela Schumann and Joe Chapman bt Maria Tovar and Adam Murrills 11-9, 6-11, 11-7. Photo: Provided

Stefanoni had looked very impressive in her semi-final victory over Daniela Schumann and appeared the favourite going in to the final of the Virgin Island’s first ever Women’s PSA tour event hosted by the BVI Squash Rackets Association at the Tortola Sports Club from May 16-18, 2019.

Laura Tovar (Colombia) had other ideas though and she came out playing very aggressive, purposeful squash.

As soon as Tovar worked the opening she was quick on to the ball and then clinical in her attacks. There were some big points at the end of the 2nd which in this heat can eat in to the reserves of the players. Tovar played them well to open up a 2-0 lead

Squash is a game of small margins though and these margins seemed to tip slightly in Stefanoni’s favour from the 3rd onwards. Tovar’s quality and intensity maybe dropped ever so slightly and Stefanoni (who remained level headed throughout) began to start dominating proceedings. It was her now who was slightly on top in the points and who was then finishing the points off confidently.

The 3rd and 4th went in Stefanoni’s favour quite quickly. With it tied at 2-2 we now had a 1 game shoot out for the title. Some high quality squash ensued and at 6-5 to Stefanoni the match was anyone’s. Over the next few minutes Stefanoni held her nerve really well (possibly due to the confidence that her previous two titles had given her) and unfortunately for Tovar she made a few mistakes.

Stefanoni managed to close it out 11-5 and in doing so become the first ever winner of a female PSA Event in the Virgin Islands (VI).

Sorrentino tops in Women’s Club Championships

In the Women’s Club Championships Final, Zoe Sorrentino beat Jane Wyllie 11-0, 11-2, 11-4. Sorrentino really displayed her dominance and stranglehold on the women’s title in this match. Wyllie is a clever player and has several tricky shots. Sorrentino though was hitting the corners well and she used her youth and impressive movement to never allow Wyllie a look in. Sorrentino is a far better player than she gives herself credit for.

In the Exhibition Mixed Doubles played just before the finals, Daniela Schumann and Joe Chapman beat Maria Tovar and Adam Murrills 11-9, 6-11, 11-7.

Singles squash is one of the fastest sports in the world… doubles takes it to another level though. Four people sharing a small space looking to attack at every opportunity. Wherever you hit it there is somebody there. This means that you have to hit an incredible shot to achieve a winner. The winners seemed to be flowing more frequently from our opponents rackets. Both Joe and Daniela hit some outrageous shots to eventually take the spoils.

Participants of the Harneys BVI Squash Open hailed from Canada, America, Egypt, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Guyana and England as well as the Virgin Islands. The international contingent included players ranked in the PSA world’s top 80.