While most Tafties were celebrating the end of exams and the start of the holiday break, Sue Ann Yong ’14 was gearing up for yet another test: the largest individual junior squash tournament in the world. From December 17-20, Sue Ann competed in the 2011 US Junior Open Squash Championships, in Cambridge, MA. Sue Ann came away the winner of the Girls Under 17 division (GU17).
“It was a week of exciting squash,” Sue Ann said. “ It was a great experience and a wonderful feeling.”
A record field of over 750 players from more than 20 countries competed at this year’s Open; 128 of those players were in Sue Ann’s division.
“It was my first year playing the US Open,” Sue Ann explained, “and I had not had much practice time because of exams.”
After a strong opening, Sue Ann moved to the round of 16 with a 3-0 win, where she earned a spot in the quarterfinals with another decisive 3-0 victory. Sue Ann upset #4 seed Egypt’s Laila Omar to advance to the semi-finals where she faced #1 seed Olivia Fletcher.
“I knew it would be difficut as she has beaten me many times,” Sue Ann said.
Sue Ann defeated Fletcher, and went on to win the tournament in an exciting, 5-game match over #2 seed Katie Tutrone.
“I played without any expectations and I upset the top seed in the semi finals, and eventually won the finals against the second seed. I was very surprised, but exhausted and happy at the same time.”
