Serme ends Fernandes’ World title bid

Mar 22, 2014 Sports

Despite a daring challenge from Guyana’s squash star Nicolette Fernandes, world number six Camille Serme of France prevented her from reaching the quarterfinals at the Women’s Squash Association’s 29th Women’s World Championship in Penang, Malaysia on Thursday.
Fernandes was eliminated in the second round of the main draw (last 16) by Serme 14-12, 11-5,11-3 in an encounter which lasted 38 minutes. Coming off a phenomenal come from behind performance against former world number

Camille Serme (SquashPics.com)

one Rachael Grinham on Tuesday, Fernandes seemed pumped and ready to create yet another upset. From the get go, Fernandes asserted herself and took a 4-1 lead which she managed to build to 8-4. Fernandes even managed to take game-ball at 10-8, but the determined Serme was would not let up.
Serme delved in to her arsenal and unleashed some potent drop shots and deceptive cross court winners to work her way back into the game. Fernandes showed great resilience at first and took the advantage at 11-10 and again 12-11. Nevertheless, the six-time French national champion continued her surge and won the first game 14-12.
The first game seemed to have sky-rocketed the confidence of the world number six and she came out firing freely in the second to race away with an 11-5 win to leave Fernandes trailing 0-2 once again.
In the third, Fernandes attempted to steal the momentum to possibly stage another comeback. Her intentions showed as she was more aggressive and engaged Serme in two lengthy rallies to begin the third game. Both players were determined not to relent at this stage, brandishing their best shots. Fernandes managed to stay within one point of Serme during the early stages of the third and final game (2-3) before the French national champion shifted her game up a gear.
Even though she would have been eliminated in the last 16 of the tournament, Fernandes may be able to find some consolation in her second win against former World Champion Grinham in less than 18 months.
Grinham is the only woman besides world number one Nicol David to have won the WSA World title since 2005 and David is on the quest for her eight title. Fernandes was also awarded the 2013 WSA Sportsmanship Award earlier this week.