Latest opdate: 15/03/2002 - 23:37 (CET)

All England 2002 - LS Finals

Yonex All England Open

6. - 10. march, the nia birmingham, England

Ladies' Singles Final

  Camilla MARTIN, DEN
  - GONG Ruina, CHN          7-5, 8-6, 7-3 (47m)

The Match

Camilla had a 4-1 track record agains Gong Ruina, who furthermore came from af very tough and drawn out match against Zhou Mi, China, in the semifinals, so things looked good for the dane in her 13th appearance at the All England Championships.

The first game was very long - with long rallies and no scoring between serves. Camilla opened up af 4-2 lead, but Gong evened that to af 4-5 lead. But on the next serve Camilla scored to gamepoint - and in the finale, very long rally - outplayed Gong in the end.

After being outgunned like this, one would expect Gong to give up - but she did not, and in the 2. game, scoreing was brisk, and rallies shorter. Gong got gamepoint first, at 6-4, after leading most of the time. She lost it, however, and Camilla won the game on one serve.

Gong still struggled, but Camilla was cool and in control - only a few outcries - and as far as this reporter could hear - not too foul. Gong again got the lead, this time to 3-1, but from then on Camilla did all the scoring.

Comments

Camilla was wery pleased with the result. Beating 4 chinese in a row is a very seldom occurence. She is happy, if she can get 3 1 - 2 times a year, she said. Asked why she was less emotional about this victory than the World Championship in 1999, she said that the latter was very unexpected and before the homecrowd of friends and families. She was also very emotional about the Olympic silver medal in Sydney 2000. But winning the All England after all these years was definitely a strong contender to the other two.

Before starting the match, she felt that she could beat Gong Ruina, as she had done before. The game was played more on tactics and mentality than on technique and stamina. Camilla knew, that he could make Gong run, and make errors, and that succeed most of the time.

But winning this year had not discouraged her from comming back and try the next two years, if she can.

[Camilla Martin has decided, that she will retire after the Athens Olypics 2004.]

Se also pictures of Camilla Martin

DilleSport - since august 1995 an independent part of Danske Nyheder (news in danish).

Created by
Dille Andersen.
UK Editor, DilleSport
(Photographer)

Leif Andersen.
DK Editor, DilleSport
(Text, Results, Layout and Links)

Production:
BLA*nets DilleSport