Beaten Aussie praises our Ali

Saturday 22nd January 2011, 2:30PM GMT.

Alison Merrien and Karen Murphy face an interviewer. (Picture by Howard Harding)

TRIBUTES poured in yesterday from players and officials for what was a popular victory for Alison Merrien in the WBT Matchplay singles final at Potters Leisure Resort.

And suggestions that her final opponent, Aussie Karen Murphy, had snubbed her in her moment of triumph can be discounted.

Some viewers were under the impression that Murphy had neglected the ritual of shaking hands with Merrien at the end of the final, but after the game the Australian was full of praise for her opponent.

‘Alison and I go back a long way,’ said Murphy. ‘She’s a great player, and we’ve had some great battles, so I knew that it would be a hard match – but I was pleased for Ali after she had lost in two finals on the trot.’