2019 FINALS : It’s Greg and Annie

HKFC International 2019 : FINALS

[1] Annie Au (Hkg) 3-0 [4] Nada Abbas (Egy)  11-8, 12-10, 11-4 (27m)

[3] Greg Lobban (Sco) 3-0 [4] Tsz Fung Yip (Hkg)  11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (52m)

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It’s a hat-trick for Annie as Greg opens his HKFC account

Annie Au and Greg Lobban are the 2019 HKFC International Champions after both enjoyed straight game victories in today’s finals at Hong Kong Football Club.

Top seed and defending champion Annie took on Egyptian youngster Nada Abbas, ranked #34 in the world against Annie’s #10. The home favourite was always ahead in the first game, moving here opponent to all cornes as she does, and took the lead 11-8.

Nada started the second strongly and led theoughout, building an 8-4 advantage. Annie levelled at 8-all but Nada moved ahed again to 10-8, only for Annie to take the next four points to double her advantage.

It was all Annie in the third as she advanced to her third HKFC title and 17th PSA triumph.

“There’s always pressure on me playing here,” said Annie, “being top seed and playing at home always makes you nervous.

“And when I went on court a couple of days ago Joey and Leo [Au and Chan, second seeds] had already lost so that made it even tougher!”

“I’m happy with how I played this week, and delighted to win another title here. “

The men’s final featured the third and fourth seeds after that night of upsets took out Leo and also top seed and defending champion Max Lee, with Scotland’s Greg Lobban up against Hong Kong’s Yip Tsz Fung.

Third seed Lobban went into the match with a four place advantage in the world rankings – #30 to #34 – and a 3-0 lead in their matches so far.

The first game was a brutal 21-minute affair, but it was Lobban who was always ahead and he stayed so to take the lead 11-8. The Scot repeated the trick in the second, and after establishing a lead in the third Yip became increasingly desperate, flinging himself around the court – in vain – several times.

An error from Yip on the second match ball delivered Lobban’s tenth and biggest PSA title.

“I’m really happy to have won this tournament,” said a delighted Greg. “I had to work very hard to stay on top in the first, Yip was pushing me in every rally, I couldn’t relax at all until the very end.

“As a $30k event it’s my biggest so far, but the organisation and facilities for this event would do justice to a platinum event, it’s one that I certainly look forward to coming back to!

“Thanks to my coaching team Nick and Neil back in the UK for all their help.”