Team USA’s Olivia Weaver successfully defended her Chestnut Hill Classic title as the world No. 4 captured the title without dropping a game Saturday, November 24, at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Playing on the same courts where she learned the sport as a junior, Weaver proved why she has become one of the world’s top players since winning her first Chestnut Hill Classic title eighteen months ago.
Weaver met compatriot American Marina Stefanoni in the final, who will represent Team USA alongside Weaver at the Women’s World Team Championship next month. Stefanoni continued her good form in Philadelphia after winning her second career PSA Challenger 15 title in Costa Rica and reaching a new career high ranking of world No. 44 last week. Stefanoni reached a new milestone in the Chestnut Hill Classic, reaching her first PSA Bronze final with two five-game wins over top-fifty-ranked players in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
The final proved to be all Weaver, however, as the home hero clinched the title 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 twenty-seven minutes.
“It means everything to me,” Weaver said after the match. “This is the club where I learned to play squash. I would not be the person or the player that I am without this amazing club and community. To defend my title, to come through and to perform despite the pressure of being the top seed, I’m so happy.”
Weaver travels to Hong Kong next month where she will be the Milwaukee Hong Kong Open four seed, December 2-8.
“I think a big thing I have been focusing on is my consistency,” Weaver said. “Obviously, being at World No.4, I want to scalp a win off one of those top three players, but another part of that is about constantly raising my level and elevating my game. Coming to a week like this and not dropping a game only adds to my confidence heading to Hong Kong, which I hope I can perform really well in.”