Over 200 players in action on AJO day one
Published Sat 22 Apr 2023
Day one of the 2023 Australian Junior Open is in the books with more than 160 matches contested over nine hours of competition at Melbourne Sports Centres.
From under 11s through to under 19s, more than 200 players from a dozen countries fought for their chance to contest the quarter finals and beyond on Sunday and Monday.
Courtney Scholtz (VIC) reached the quarter finals of the AJO in her first year of under 19s and is looking to go even further in the draw this year having made it through day one with a comfortable win.
“I feel like I was just shaking off the nerves a bit so not my best squash, but it was good to have a hit and get into it,” said Scholtz. “Definitely wanting to win tomorrow and play in the afternoon, but just playing it as it comes.”
Scholtz’s ambitions for this year go further than this weekend, with the hope of being selected for the World Junior Championships team later this year.
“I think it’s good because if I make the World Juniors team it’s nice to play at these courts,” she said. “I love these tournaments when you can meet up with your friends you haven’t seen because we all live in different states so it’s good to see everyone again. It’s a good social event as well as a squash event.”
The girls under 19 draw bore witness to the toughest competitor on day one of the AJO. Saige Lawson (QLD) was 0-2 down in the opening round before winning three straight games to take her place in round two.
The Queenslander then went the distance once again in a see-sawing second round clash, eventually winning 3-2 to set up a quarter final showdown with second seed Amelie Guziak (VIC).
2017 Australian National Champion Daniel Marsh (WA) was given a tough contest in his second round clash against American William Krizek. Marsh dropped the second game but was able to come out on top, the 23-shot rally to finish the match a true reflection of how the encounter unfolded.
“The time zone killed me!” said Marsh, who flew in from Western Australia and was still adjusting to the time difference. After finishing, Marsh went straight over to watch defending champion Oscar Curtis (WA) who he knows well and is hoping to meet later on in the tournament.
“My main training partner is the number one seed so I’m trying to get through and play him,” he said.
The first unseeded player through to the semi finals is Japan’s Emily Senior who has dropped just 19 points through six matches in the under 13 draw.
On Sunday she will take on Nadia van Zon in the quarter finals after the South Australian eliminated the top seed.
“My first match was on the glass court and I’ve never played on a glass court before so it was tough to get the hang of it but I got used to it,” said Senior. “My second match I knew my opponent was very strong so I was just thinking to try my best.”
Having attended a training camp in Australia after flying in from Japan, Senior said the experience prepared her well for a tournament where she is aiming for perfect results from start to finish.
“I think it was very good to do [the camp] and I think it made my motivation better,” she said. “My goal is to of course win but I don’t want any opponents to get any games off me.”
The Australian Junior Open continues on Sunday 23 April with the first matches on court at 8:30am AEST.
Centre Court action will be streamed live on SquashAUS.TV.
