SF: Melissa Clinical against Millie

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[1] Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-0 [7] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 (21m)

It doesn’t happen often but I think Mel is spot on in her analysis of the match (KIDDING). First thing I thought when I observed the first game was how lost Millie was with her marks on the court. She looked completely lost on there. Millie doesn’t normally lose a first game 11/2 in 4m….

It’s only in the third that she tried something completely different, hitting the ball harder, and stepping up the court much more. It unsettled the French girl, 3/0 for Millie. But a good response from Mel who just put the ball to the back, not hitting too hard, keeping it simple, not overcomplicating things. She scored 6 points in a row, 6/3.

The rest of the game was much closer than the two previous, although Melissa always seemed relaxed and in control, 8/5, 10/6, 11/7, match to the “Local”, 7m last game, the longest of the match.

Melissa

Honestly, I think the court change really didn’t work in her favour – I’m sure of that. And I knew it. Moving from that court to this one (pointing to the two very different setups, one with a glass side) – I already knew it would give me an advantage.

Then, because I started hitting the ball hard and took the first game quite comfortably, she might have felt there was no way out.

But I really liked her reaction in the third, because she completely changed her game. That shows she’s a very intelligent player – she understands squash, she feels the game. She thought, “Okay, I’m going to try something different.” She’s got no coach, no one with her, and yet she still tries things.

As for me, I felt calm. Physically, I could see there was no way she could overtake me. She could win a point, two, maybe three — but I couldn’t see her getting to 11, let alone 33. Once you tell yourself that in your head, it becomes easier.

Her game, for me, is a bit easier to read. The ball comes a bit slower, which gives me time to anticipate, to intercept, and to do what I do best. So that was great.

I really think the court worked massively against her. I saw it right at the start – I hit a straight drive, and she went left, even though it was just a simple straight shot. I know her level – she normally picks that one up. Honestly, nothing was going her way today: she’d had a tough match yesterday, I hadn’t; she switched courts; I don’t make many errors or give away easy points; and she was on her own, without a coach. It was a very tough day for her today.

Thanks for reminding me of my nickname – the “Copper Queen”! Last year I won three Copper events, so the girls started calling me that, which was cool…

Sometimes in a career, it’s great to play the big tournaments, even if you only get through one or two rounds. But sometimes, it’s also good to play the smaller ones — where you have to keep winning matches, where you’re the favourite — and that’s not easy either.

Of course, the goal isn’t to stay “Copper Queen” forever, because that would mean you’re not really progressing! But hey, if it means I get to come back to Monaco, that’s fine by me.

So the plan now is to move from Copper Queen to Silver Queen, then Gold Queen, and finally Platinum Queen!

I’m happy to reach the final feeling fresh — they told me I’ve only spent about an hour and twenty minutes on court. But still, playing Lauren wasn’t as easy as it looked – the games were tight – and today it’ll be the same against Millie. You need to bring a lot of intensity; it’s far from a walk in the park. But yes, coming into the final after a 3–0 win, feeling fresh – that’s always a good thing.