Australian Top Seed Takes Title In Auckland

A first title wasn’t to be for Kiwi junior squash player, Kaitlyn Watts as she was defeated by top seed and world No.53 Christine Nunn of Australia in the final of the US$5,000 Court Tech Wormen’s PSA Classic in Auckland.

Watts, 17 from Palmerston North was playing in her first final in nine attempts at pro tournaments but found herself up against the current Australian national senior champion and a competitor who had made the third round of the Commonwealth Games just over a month ago.

The first game was won 11-9 by Nunn after Watts kept pace the whole way, however in the second it was the Aussie starting fast and running out to a 9-1 lead, dominating the centre of the court and forcing the teenage Kiwi to run. Eventually Nunn won the game 11-4.

The third game was a switch in form, for a while as Watts who has recently been selected for the World Youth Olympics in Argentina later in the year secured a 4-1 lead after a couple of winners and then forced mistakes.

But the experience of the older Australian told and a few errors crept in to the Kiwis game for Nunn to take the game 11-7 in a match total time of 25 minutes.

However the fifth seeded Kiwi would be pleased to make the final beating the second and third seeds along the way.

Watts will now play in the New Zealand national champs in Auckland next month which will feature all of the successful Commonwealth Games team members.

All the games can be watched on demand HERE

Final:

(1) Christine Nunn (Australia) bt (5) Kaitlyn Watts (New Zealand) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (25 mins)