Aussie-turned-Kiwi Carol Owens look a leaf out of golfer Michael Campbell's book of tricks to beat England's Cassie Jackman in the women's singles semifinals yesterday.
Owens, 31, not only had to contend with the world No 3 on court, wearing a Union Jack bandana around her head, but had to block
out the antics of her noisy band of supporters outside.
"Someone in the New Zealand team told me the other day that Michael Campbell tries to focus by thinking when he hears the crowd roar that it is for him," Owens said.
"I thought that was a good motto and I used that today. So I thank Michael for that."
After a tentative start, when she lost the first game, world No 2 Owens found a better length in the second game and eventually prevailed 3-9, 9-5, 9-1, 9-5 in 59 minutes.
She will meet world No 1 Sara FitzGerald in today's final.
"There was a lot of pressure there. I was trying to tell myself there wasn't, but Cassie's a tough player and we always have tough matches," Owens said.
Jackman said she lost her length in the third game, which proved fatal against a player of Owens' class.
But she revelled in the crowd support.
The result was a reversal of Owens' quarter-final match at the Kuala Lumpur Games four years ago, when she was knocked out by Jackman.
It was after Kuala Lumpur that Owens decided to part company with Australian squash and seek New Zealand representation, feeling that she was not getting enough support from Squash Australia between major championships.
But the change of affiliation is a non-issue for Owens.
"I don't really think of it any more. I'm playing for New Zealand and am happy playing for New Zealand.
"That's all there is to it."
- NZPA
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