Hong Kong Squash Open: Simmi Chan learns lesson as ex-champion Paul Coll survives fright
Home interest ended by world No 8 Tinne Gilis, while 2023 men’s champion stays on course after resisting a stirring fightback
Simmi Chan Sin-yuk exited the Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open on Wednesday, but said her career was just getting started.
The under-23 world championship runner-up in April, Chan has waved goodbye to her American student life and settled back in Hong Kong.
And she said she was “happy I got close and left it all out there” after losing three tight games to world No 8 Tinne Gilis, having “not played at such a high level for a very long time”.
The 23-year-old world No 38 was pipped 11-9, 11-7 in the opening two games, before she was hauled back from 10-7 up to surrender the last 14-12.
“Having the game points made me more rushed, and I made a few mistakes,” Chan said. “I didn’t handle that the best way.
“I’ve always known I have to get better in those situations. The biggest lesson from the match was that I need to put consistent pressure on my opponent until I earn the point.”