Get ready for an electrifying showdown at the Squash Australian Open! Witness the intensity as Australia's wildcard sensation, Madison Lyon, takes on the formidable Holly Norton of Canada in this thrilling Round of 32 clash.
Lyon, a rising talent at just 20 years old and ranked world number 80, brings raw energy and a fierce competitive spirit to the court. She's been honing her skills overseas and is determined to make her mark on the senior circuit.
Norton, a former world number 16 from Canada, arrives with confidence, having recently overcome a massive mental battle against a top-ranked opponent. While acknowledging tough previous rounds, she's eager to prove her mettle.
This match promises incredible rallies and a test of skill and resilience on a court described as fast and true, offering a slight bite for those strategic drop shots. Tune in to see these two incredible athletes battle it out for a place in the next round!
#SquashAustralianOpen #WomensSquash #MadisonLyon #HollyNorton
Lyon, a rising talent at just 20 years old and ranked world number 80, brings raw energy and a fierce competitive spirit to the court. She's been honing her skills overseas and is determined to make her mark on the senior circuit.
Norton, a former world number 16 from Canada, arrives with confidence, having recently overcome a massive mental battle against a top-ranked opponent. While acknowledging tough previous rounds, she's eager to prove her mettle.
This match promises incredible rallies and a test of skill and resilience on a court described as fast and true, offering a slight bite for those strategic drop shots. Tune in to see these two incredible athletes battle it out for a place in the next round!
#SquashAustralianOpen #WomensSquash #MadisonLyon #HollyNorton
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NewsTranscript
00:00Please welcome to court another local Brisbane Aussie, our wildcard world-ranked 80th, Madison Lyon.
00:31And all the way from Canada, world-ranked number 37, please welcome, Holly Norton.
01:00Madison Lyon of Australia, second-last wildcard featuring in tonight's play.
01:06Taking on Holly Norton of Canada.
01:14And I'm joined by Australian Squash Royalty here in the commentary box.
01:19Straight out of the coaching corner of Joe White, still in his Aussie top, Ryan Caskelly.
01:24Royalty, wow. I feel very privileged.
01:27Yeah, straight out of the coach's box.
01:30Unfortunately, he didn't go Joe's way, but he played really well in some patches.
01:34But, you know, you've got to sort of do that for three games, don't you, Lisa?
01:38So, yeah, it was a good battle, but you look back at that and realise, you know, some of the
01:44things he could have done.
01:45Well, Holly Norton is a former world number 16, and this was her just last week in New Zealand.
01:51And she got through a massive mental and psychological battle against Joelle King.
01:58Joelle King, obviously, no stranger to gold medals and titles and top 10 in the world rankings.
02:05So this was a massive win for Holly Norton, not taking anything away from her.
02:10Obviously, Joelle King coming back from her second knee surgery and just managed to sneak into this draw, actually.
02:16Yesterday, flew in this morning.
02:19I won't give away her result, though.
02:20Well, so Holly Norton can take over from New Zealand.
02:25A lot of confidence.
02:26However, Ryan, she did lose out to Kaye Lee in the next round, and I feel that she, well, knowing
02:33what she's like,
02:33she'll be very hard on herself, and that won't be a loss that she saw coming.
02:37Yeah, I think she'll be kicking herself over there.
02:39We know Lee's a very good, you know, talented player.
02:42She's got good skills.
02:43So it's a tough match for her, but I think she'll be keen to, you know, turn the tables here
02:48and have a good result.
02:54Well, this is the first time I've seen Madison Lyon play in real life.
02:58I've seen the results.
02:59She spent a bit of time over in Europe, October, November last year, played three events over there.
03:04She spent a bit of time training in Holland, I believe, but from Australia, coached by Nathan Turnbull.
03:11And does she feature over at the Carrara?
03:15Yeah, she comes down twice a week.
03:18Yeah, so I've only been here for like a year and a bit.
03:20So, yeah, she's normally twice a week, you know, apart that she's actually moved overseas for a period with Jess.
03:25But, yeah, she's got a lot of talent.
03:28Super quick, super strong, good intensity.
03:32Just as you can keep it together, you know, for a longer period of time, she could do well.
03:37Well, a great conversion rate in those finals, two from two.
03:42At her highest world ranking of 80.
03:4520 years of age now, so outside the juniors, looking to make a break onto the senior circuit.
04:00Well, it's night time here now in Brisbane.
04:03This is a lovely scenic that we're getting here.
04:34All right.
04:35Yeah.
04:35Yeah, no, it's a great spot.
04:37City's across the road.
04:39It's a great spot.
05:00Yeah.
05:00medals.
05:01Yeah, back in the day.
05:02It was actually early days for me, 2010, and I had a few issues in the next ones, but we
05:06won't go into that today.
05:08Too long of a story.
05:10But, yeah.
05:11That was Delhi.
05:12It was Delhi, yes.
05:13My first Commonwealth Games. Long time ago.
05:16Good one, that one.
05:23Well, that's the match referee Paul Kennett for this one with Damian Green in the VR seat.
05:31What's it like down there? You were just in the thick of it coaching Joe White.
05:35The court looks great and it's playing super true.
05:39It'd be fun to play on there. I'd love to get on there, have a little hit.
05:42But yeah, it's really true. Good length. You know, it's sitting down, you get in front,
05:48you can tap the ball short. You know, probably too many balls in the sidewall in that match,
05:51you know, going short. If you get that ball running, it just sticks and it's really grabbing
05:55on the wall. So just a little bit of bite on those drop shots and, you know,
05:59it can be a lot of winners out there today. So yeah, it looks like a fun court to play
06:03on.
06:24Squash Australian Open 2026. Women's Round of 32.
06:29Women's Round of 32. Madison Lowen of Australia to serve.
06:35Holly Norton of Canada to receive. Best of five games. Love all.
06:42Well, here we go. Second last wildcard from Australia. Giving it a go here in her home backyard.
06:59Hey there. One more.
07:01I'm interested in the day, Ryan. And maybe you can help me out with this. Madison's 20 years of age.
07:08She was first active on tour 10 years ago, meaning she was 10. So tell me through that.
07:13Very talented junior. We started young here in Australia. A lot of talent. No, I don't know what
07:18that is. But yeah, Maddie's, yeah, she's come off like probably a good stretch in the winter here last
07:29year. She beat Alex and Jess. First time she's beaten them. The number one and two in Australia.
07:35So yeah, she's got a lot of potential. It's just, you know, you know, it's like finding your way
07:39overseas and learning how to train and what place actually works for you. So I think she's still
07:45still working that out. But as I said, a lot of talent, unbelievable intensity. When you do a session
07:51with her, she's on to the ball quick, you know, so just keeping it together a little bit longer at
07:58the
07:58moment, you know, just getting stuck in for a bit longer. And she can get her teeth into the match.
08:02I think she's got a great chance. See that footwork already. Very busy with the feet, isn't she?
08:08She's getting right up the court. Feet are going like the clappers. Yeah, the boys at Corral, I like to
08:14hear this, but she does beat them in court sprints, especially the side ones. What sort of court sprints
08:19we talking like set to 20? Yeah, we do the 20s full length, but the sides are just 10, but
08:25very short rest.
08:26And she's known to overlap a few of the boys. So that's how quick she is. She's a very good
08:32athlete.
08:35You mentioned just there that she's trying to find her way and work out whether she's going to be
08:40overseas or based over here. What what's the encouragement like from the setup with you guys?
08:45Uh, she's had a few trials. Like she tried America, um, before going to Europe. So I think she's doing
08:51the
08:54a bit of both at the moment. Um, I'd love for her to get over and see Rod a little
08:55bit more. Um, but
08:55it's a bit more comfortable for her. They're good friends.
08:57Do you want them to go? Do you want them to go out of Australia?
09:00Well, eventually, yes, you have to. I, you know, I'd love for them to stay and,
09:04and, uh, train them up and, and travel with them. But realistically, you can't live in Australia
09:09eventually, uh, once you get to a level. Um, and she's only young. She's only 20. So, um, she's doing
09:15a bit of both at the moment. Um, I'd love for her to get over and see Rod a little
09:19bit more. Um,
09:21but it's her choice in the end. I'm not going to force her to go to Rod or to go
09:24to America,
09:25to go to Europe. It's, it is her decision. Um, I try to say what the right thing I would
09:29do and
09:30what she should do, but it's her own. Tricky.
10:05Down.
10:08Five, three.
10:11Well, you can see the players sweating quite significantly already. 24 degrees here, 8.20
10:19p.m. local time.
10:23Not normal conditions for these players to play in. Usually they're inside
10:29in an air conditioned court.
10:33Do have a few of the big events. Platinum level, diamond level,
10:37one in Egypt where we have an outdoor court.
10:45Yeah, I think Maddy will be advantage for her, you know, because she's used to these hot conditions
10:49training in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so.
10:52You got AC in there?
10:54No, we have no AC, no. Not yet. Not yet. It's in the plan.
10:59Hand out.
11:00Yeah, the crowd get behind that shot.
11:03Lion just catching the nick with his cross court, rolling it dead.
11:24I'm sure you've played a few Australian Opens in your time. Do you remember being 20 years old and getting
11:31out
11:31there on the big bad stage under the lights and how that felt?
11:34Yeah, it was probably a little bit smaller back in the day for my first few Australian Opens.
11:40We had South Australian Clare, like a little country wine area.
11:45So yeah, it was probably like a 30,000 dollar event back then.
11:50But always was keen to play because obviously it's got a lot of history.
11:53And then it finally got bigger in Canberra. I think it was like the 13s, 14, around that time.
11:592010.
12:00Yeah, so I was pretty young, probably Matty's age.
12:04And I remember playing Shibana actually first round, so.
12:07That's cool.
12:07Snuck a game, I don't know how.
12:09Two lefties.
12:09Yeah, two lefties. He was my idol too.
12:11I was young and I think, I think I got a wild card and I snuck a game.
12:15I think he wasn't really, didn't know who I was.
12:18So he wasn't really fully focused as Shibana can be, so.
12:21Hand out.
12:21Well, they all count.
12:235-8.
12:28Just can see that.
12:29Flip the side wall out of court.
12:31Give you some bonus points.
12:33Tell me who was the women's winner in 2010.
12:36Canberra.
12:37He's testing me.
12:39I'll give you a clue.
12:41She's not Aussie and at the time she was six in the world.
12:44And she had announced her retirement before the tournament.
12:489-5.
12:53Retirement.
12:54Trying to think of an English player.
12:57English.
12:58No.
12:5810-5.
12:59Close.
12:59Game ball.
13:01Game ball here for Holly Naughton.
13:02I'll give you time to think about that one.
13:04I'll need time for that one.
13:11Great shot.
13:12Yeah, lovely finish.
13:13Hand out.
13:13Pressed with Lyon technically.
13:156-10.
13:16Game ball.
13:17A lovely swing.
13:18Both sides.
13:25Just got to go.
13:26Watch coming into that front left corner.
13:28She's playing a lefty and, you know, from the back of the court.
13:30I feel she needs to wait.
13:31You know, more mid court.
13:32Take it in from there.
13:38There's nothing.
13:40I'm just getting the length and depth there.
13:43Norton leads.
13:49I'm just getting the length and depth there.
14:05It's a high rank seed Holly Noughten takes at 11-6 She leads one game to love.
14:17Well there's Nathan Turnbull, there he's lost a lot of hair since i seen him last.
14:23he's the brother of Jess Turnbill now van der Waal that played she's the Australia number one she played
14:29earlier this evening
14:40look at this
14:41absolutely lovely technical work here
14:43from camera operator Joe Sweeney
14:45look at the spin on that
14:46great spin, well controlled by Lyon
14:49play will resume in 60 seconds
14:52taking in all the advice you can get here
14:54Joe White in the background there
14:56after his loss in the last match
14:58to Nicholas, the number two seed in the
15:00women's draw
15:02offering her advice to Holly Notten
15:05Madeline Perry
15:08ah that didn't cross my mind
15:10I didn't think it would
15:11I don't know why, didn't
15:12number four in the world
15:13six
15:14she was at the time
15:15yeah
15:16she got to four didn't she
15:17she did, that's right
15:18yes, good memory
15:21that's a good win
15:22great win
15:23did beat our co-commentator Jenny Duncalf on the way
15:28Norton leads
15:30one game to Luff
15:42level
15:45second game underway
15:52what was a tricky one playing the wild card
15:53I don't know if you ever came up against the wild card when you were right up there at 12
15:57in the world
15:58yeah not too many
16:00not that I can remember, I probably did
16:02but
16:03yeah you're always a bit wary of it because you know
16:05they're pretty keen to put on a good show
16:07and they're definitely going to lift their level
16:11so yeah it's just
16:12when you want to perform in front of your friends and your family
16:15and so that added pressure as well
16:17so some people take it as positive and some you know in a negative
16:20so
16:20is she quite a nervy player?
16:22did she get nervous?
16:23a little bit nervous but more
16:26probably just within itself
16:27which doesn't you know feel like she's playing well
16:29or you know
16:30which
16:32not really frustrated about anything else
16:33it's just she's not hitting the ball
16:35you know where she wants
16:36it's all
16:39three
16:40it's all good
16:45three love
16:49a holly knotting in the referee shirt
16:52about that one
16:55good start
17:13holly knotting
17:14as i said former world number 16
17:16now 37 in the world
17:18looking to
17:19climb back up the rankings
17:21particularly with
17:23the qualification system
17:24for the la 28 olympics
17:28to show that she's inside the top 50
17:31oh wow that's great adjustment steps there
17:33see the speed that the Aussies got
17:36definitely got the foot speed
17:37she's just not quite reading it you know
17:40she hasn't spent a lot of time on the glass court
17:42so you know it's definitely a new place for her
17:46so it's not easy your first couple of times
17:48just getting used to the lights
17:49and how the ball bounces
17:50and
17:52and then throwing the dynamic of the left-hander
17:55yeah
17:56always awkward playing the lefties
18:00six love
18:18yeah lovely finish
18:22hand out
18:23on the volley and off the bounce
18:26lovely technique
18:28well it comes from that lift
18:30you know that backhand
18:31that lift onto the backhand
18:32high backhand on the lefty
18:33and then it sets up that volley position
18:37yeah you and i know a thing or two about that
18:40hand out
18:41seven one
18:42but i don't think enough people pepper that
18:44you know especially lefties
18:48they don't pepper that you know that high backhand enough
18:51as we know it's not an easy spot for us is it
18:55no i'll hit it to my forehand all day long please
18:57yeah please
18:58give that a crack
18:59eight one
19:01yeah you're right i think it's
19:03it's difficult isn't it
19:04right-handers
19:05predominantly playing right-handed players
19:07to try and break out of their natural patterns
19:09they often forget
19:11nine one
19:12or that that lift can be used repetitively
19:15because it's that accumulative pressure to the high backhand
19:18it's brutal
19:20that normally sets up that forehand volley for the righties
19:23you know if they hit it well enough
19:25eventually you know it's going to get a weak return
19:28oh what was that
19:29that is
19:29never seen that before
19:30it was a hardball double shot
19:31one game reverse corner
19:32i knew you should be giving that one a smile
19:35watch this an absolutely rapid leisure centre boast
19:39definitely don't learn that in content
19:40jeez
19:45well just one game ball required for holly naught and settle right into this match
19:50no sign of nerves hitting her targets
19:52moving her opponent around into good areas of the court
20:01very clinical second game
20:03the canadian
20:08four minutes just
20:09and it's holly naught and leading two games to love
20:15yeah madison lion of australia struggling here jenny duncarp alongside us in the studio
20:20just to assess this one
20:22just your thoughts initially on on this and where madison's lacking at the moment
20:27yeah it's a tough one you know it's a tough ask for her she's never been on this sort of
20:31um show court before
20:32she did play this event last year but it was at her home club
20:35you can see uh she's got a big brother in a corner to to coach her but holly's just oozed
20:40confidence in that second game uh so for me maddie's just got to stay positive doesn't want to get her
20:46head down and uh try and stay out there for as long as she can there's there's a lot for
20:50her to cope
20:51with the left-handed aspect of holly she's looking at the courts she's struggling at the moment
20:58nerves playing on the big stage is that does that play a factor as well obviously you know it's being
21:02broadcast
21:02all over the world on squash tv and a whole load of fans in from home from home of course
21:07i mean
21:08i think we saw that on her on her run out she sort of took the wrong route to to
21:12the court but she
21:13there were some good things some positive things in the first game and she persevered till the end
21:17there but it came off a little bit too quickly that second game so hopefully she can make a good
21:21start
21:21in the third i'm hearing that's not her brother with her incidentally i don't think it's her brother
21:25it's been a long day michael that's jessica turnbull's big brother that's her coach yeah
21:29yeah there you go we just wanted to clarify that one for for everyone at home there um do you
21:35see
21:35see any way back here for maddie i think it would be uh quite a good comeback if she did
21:41so probably no
21:42okay it's sport anything can happen let's hunt you back to the live action here with lisa
21:46great kingdom ryan caskelly well anything can happen indeed norton leads two games to love momentum and
21:56heavily in favor of the canadian
22:00level
22:04like this attitude though she's always bouncing away very positive isn't it she's positive on the feet
22:09she's gonna get stuck into this match and she just a little bit more length in her shots and just
22:14extend the rallies just to get into it um i think she'll calm down a little bit can't really do
22:18much
22:18when that happens one love
22:29stroke to norton
22:31two love
22:38oh that's a beautiful serve
22:41three love she's not quite seen is she just a bit awkward on those side walls and just with the
22:46lights
22:53yes slight delay in reaction time in her first movement and that's a clear sign that
22:58someone's just not quite reading it that's a lovely lift to the backhand side though
23:02hand out one three
23:09so
23:11so
23:13so
23:20.
23:42Lovely vantage point there.
23:44sea of green Aussie green and gold your fan of the side view because our studio
23:58is up up on the sidewall and it was quite impressive to see earlier in the
24:03day how fast the ball was traveling when it was 30 degrees spectating point of
24:09view I pretty much prefer the bat wall yeah even when we're doing the studio
24:13hits and we're watching the match and then when we're not in commentary I can't
24:17watch I don't really get an authentic feel for the game when I'm on the
24:22sidewall what about you I love watching from the front you know I remember TOC
24:26back in the day just you could stand at the front wall I used to think that was
24:28amazing you know just seeing how quick the players get in and out I don't feel
24:33like you get that perspective you know from you know watching out the back or
24:36a little bit on the sides but we watch from the side from the back all the time
24:40you know it's nice to see this is what it would look like if you were behind the
24:48front wall TOC and also at the Windy City in Chicago you can sit in the VIP area
24:55and I feel like you can get this viewpoint it's really cool
25:06what do you got there
25:12hopefully not a spider feel those around
25:20yeah I don't feel people understand how quick the players move into the front
25:24corners that's why I like the front view
25:27handouts
25:27which is crazy the movement you know seeing where their opponents are how quick
25:31they get on the ball now the drop shots the counter drops so it does give a
25:48different perspective
25:50yeah really enjoying that hold of Norton just let the ball drop sending it into
25:55the space
25:59can't leave it there with the lefty can you
26:01yeah no you can't mid-court
26:04out
26:078-4
26:10another one this will be packed out the next few days 1,200 seats available here
26:20can't get enough of it I know it's day one but I don't think that novelty this venue is going
26:26to wear off
26:26it's only going to get better
26:28it's starting to unravel here slightly for Lyon
26:37exactly the sort of performance that Holly Norton would have been after
26:4710-4 match ball
26:49match ball for the Canadian
27:00just one needed
27:01so frustration there for Lyon what an opportunity
27:04three games to love
27:05it was for Herbie in the wild card here
27:0711-6
27:0811-1
27:0911-4
27:12commanding performance
27:14dealt with the wild card
27:17very clinical manner
27:2621 minutes
27:28and it's Holly Norton that gets through three games to love
27:35yeah rapid there from Holly Norton congratulations to her safely through to the last 16
27:40you
27:40you
27:40you
27:40you
27:40you
27:41you
27:41you
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