2019 : King crowned in Manchester

Day FIVE, Mon 13th May, FINAL

[2] Joelle King (Nzl) 3-0 [6] Tesni Evans (Wal) 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 (33m)

British Open Wildcard Final : Jasmine Hutton 2-1 Lucy Beecroft 5-11, 11-5, 11-9

King crowned in Manchester

Joelle King is the inaugural Manchester Open Champion after a dominating performance in the final against Tesni Evans.

The first game was point for point up to 8-all, but thereafter the Kiwi assumed total control, closing out the match for the loss of just five more points in a little over half an hour. Tesni’s earlier exertions had made their mark, but Joelle has looked in top form all week and is a more than worthy champion.

Joelle : “I’m over the moon, but it’s bittersweet. Someone had to lose tonight, but Tesni can hold her head up high after what she has achieved this week. She has a few years on me yet, so I’m sure that she will be back stronger.

“She has showed all week that she never gives up, she came from 2-0 down against the World No.3, so I came out in the third like it was the first and never slowed down and I came out on the right side tonight.

“It’s special to win any event, coming off Hong Kong it has been a long time in between, but it makes it even more special when it is the first women’s only event here. I have to say a huge thank you to Manchester for holding this event in partnership with PSA and all the volunteers and spectators who have supported us this week.”

Tesni : “After the week I’ve had, she’s definitely someone I didn’t want to play,”

“I’m obviously disappointed that I couldn’t put up a big enough fight, but she was just too good. She was on everything early and when you’ve had some tough matches under your belt it was tough.

“I just tried to give everything and on reflection, after a disappointing day, I can reflect on it and take a lot of good things from the week I have had.”