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11/10/2014
US Open (women) 2014

 

Reports
WOMEN'S DRAW
click here for Men's Event
 Final   Semi Finals    Quarter Finals   2nd Round  1st Round  Qualifying  Previews


Event website:
DRAWS
Round One
11/12 Oct
Round Two
13/14 Oct
Quarters
15/16 Oct
Semis
17 Oct
Final
18 Oct
[1] Nicol David (MAS)
11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (32m)
[Q] Samantha Teran (MEX)
Nicol David
11-1, 11-8, 11-3,  (28m)
Rachael Grinham
Nicol David
11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (40m)
 Low Wee Wern
Nicol David
11-3, 15-13, 6-11, 11-7 (49m)
Raneem El Welily
Nicol David
11-5, 12-10, 12-10 (41m)
Nour El Sherbini
Rachael Grinham (AUS)
11-3, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 (37m)
[Q] Habiba Mohamed (EGY)
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
11-5, 12-10, 11-5 (34m)
[Q] Aisling Blake (IRL)
Nicolette Fernandes
11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3, (61m)
Low Wee Wern
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-6 (46m)
Joey Chan (HKG)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7 (41m)
[Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
Raneem El Welily
11-8, 11-9, 11-6, (31m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy
Raneem El Welily
11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
Alison Waters
Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
12-14, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 (60m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG)
Madeline Perry (IRL)
11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (31m)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Nouran Gohar
12-10, 11-8, 1-11, 15-17, 11-2, (62m)
 Alison Waters
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)
11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG)
[8] Annie Au (HKG)
11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (33m)
[Q] Victoria Lust (ENG)
Annie Au
11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
Yathreb Adel
Yathreb Adel
8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3 (71m)
Camille Serme
Camille Serme
7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (54m)
Nour El Sherbini
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (49m)
[Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY)
Kasey Brown (AUS)
7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (76m)
Tesni Evans (WAL)
Tesni Evans
11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (38m)
Camille Serme
[WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
11-6, 11-4, 13-11 (32m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA)
[7] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
11-4, 6-11, 11-1, 11-8 (42m)
Emma Beddoes (ENG)
Nour El Sherbini
11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)
Jenny Duncalf
Nour El Sherbini
11-9, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-5 (62m)
Laura Massaro
Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
Heba El Torky (EGY)
Sarah Kippax (ENG)
11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 11-8 (58m)
Line Hansen (DEN
Sarah Kippax
12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 (48m)
Laura Massaro
[Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA)
11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG)

RESULTS: Women's Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
click here for Men's Event

Qualifying finals:
Habiba Mohamed Ahmed (EGY) bt Olivia Blatchford (USA) 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 12-14, 11-7 (65m)
Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (29m)
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 17-15, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5 (60m)
Victoria Lust (ENG) bt Georgina Stoker (ENG) 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (30m)
Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (41m)
Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Cecelia Cortes (USA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (34m)
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt Maria Elena Ubina (USA) 11-6, 11-1, 11-2 (12m)
Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Deon Saffery (WAL) 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (53m)

Click here for Official Gallery Pictures
Event website: www.usopensquash.com

Final      
Final

Nicol David Wins Historic US Open Hat-Trick

Malaysian superstar Nicol David claimed the latest historic achievement in her illustrious squash career when she beat Egypt's Nour El Sherbini in the final of the Women's Delaware Investments US Open in Philadelphia to become the first player in the 60-year history of the championship to win the title three times in a row.

The top seed and the world number one for 99 successive months since August 2006, David was expected to make the final of the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University - the 95th of her career.

But El Sherbini was the event's No7 seed - and scored mighty upsets over both second seed Laura Massaro, the world champion from England, and France's fourth seed Camille Serme to claim her unexpected place in the climax.

With heavy strapping on her right thigh, the Egyptian teenager looked to be struggling with her movement in the first game as David (pictured above in action with El Sherbini) pushed her to all corners of the court.

El Sherbini was getting to most of the shots, but it looked to be a bit of a struggle as David forged leads of 4-2, 7-2 and 10-4 before taking the game 11-5.

"For the next two games, however, the 18-year-old from Alexandria matched David all the way," said a spokesman for the event. "Looking calmer and more controlled, El Sherbini was moving better, hitting better, and we had a real contest on our hands."

El Sherbini was a point or two ahead for most of the second, but it was David who reached game ball first at 10-9, doubling her lead at the second attempt, 12-10, as the Egyptian's dropshot clipped the tin.

From seven-all in the third, El Sherbini moved ahead to earn three game balls at 10-7. But David is renowned for comebacks, and forced into three errors from the Egyptian before reaching match-ball.

But as the 31-year-old world number one from Penang served for the match, the ball burst - delaying the final point as the new one was warmed up.

Minutes later, however, David blasted a shot out of El Sherbini's reach to claim her third US Open title.

"I don't believe it," said David after her 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 victory. "I was really just in the game, I'm still thinking that I need to keep warming up that ball!

"Sherbini played such a good game of squash, and I really had to play even better because it was so difficult out there to win that title.

"I think with Sherbini it's more of just getting in the groove. I think in the second game she just found the rhythm and flow, and also just good shots and she was really putting on the pressure. So I had to keep up with that pace and, at the same time, bring my game forward so I'm really pleased with that.

"I'm so pleased - really happy to win another US Open."

The 41-minute triumph marks the 76th WSA World Tour title of David's career.

 

Semi Finals

David & El Sherbini To Contest US Open Final

Top seed Nicol David and No7 seed Nour El Sherbini will contest the final of the Women's Delaware Investments US Open in Philadelphia - Malaysian David bidding to become the first player in the 60-year history of the championship to win the title three times in a row, and Egyptian teenager El Sherbini looking to repeat her shock World Championship victory over the world number one in March.

Playing her first major tournament after a five-month knee injury layoff, 18-year-old El Sherbini stormed into the final with a second consecutive stunning upset in the WSA World Series Platinum squash event at Drexel University.

Having already upset England's world No2 and reigning world champion Laura Massaro in the quarter-finals, El Sherbini came from a game down to beat France's fourth seed Camille Serme.

The Alexandria-based Egyptian (pictured above in action with Serme) made the better start in each of the four games, but after quickly falling 4-0 down in the first, Serme started to get into the match, levelled at five-all and ended the game going away for an 11-7 win.

El Sherbini shrugged that off to lead throughout the next two games, and although Serme managed to pull back to eight-all in the second and six-all in the third, the 25-year-old from Creteil could never quite get her nose in front, with youngster El Sherbini just having the slight edge in the ability to hit winning shots.

Serme battled back from 1-8 down to level the fourth, but a deep cross-court brought up match-ball for the Egyptian, and after a short exchange of volleys in the middle of the court, El Sherbini hammered the ball away to win 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 for a place in the final.

"I can't feel anything right now," said the delighted winner, now in her eighth WSA World Tour final. "I can't believe I'm in the final of the US Open!

"In the first she was playing so well, killing everything, and I didn't have a solution. I relaxed, started to play my own game and thankfully it worked, but I was so tired when she was coming back at the end, I was just hitting the ball and what happened would happen!"

By contrast, David reached her 95th WSA Tour final after seeing off Egyptian rival Raneem El Welily 11-3, 15-13, 6-11, 11-7.

The world No3 from Cairo proved to be David's most difficult match of the tournament thus far, becoming the first player to take a game off the two-time defending champion in David's longest match of the tournament, lasting 49 minutes.

"It feels great," David (pictured above with El Welily) said of her win. "She started off not in the game, but I knew she would just keep coming back and hitting some amazing shots. I just really had to dig deep and come back to my own game and really stick to it. I'm so pleased to win that one 3/1."

David admitted the importance of fighting off three games balls in the second game.

"I think it makes a huge difference between when you're one all or two love up so I used that to my advantage. She came out and played better squash in the third, so I had to come back in the fourth and really switched on and played much better and won it."

 

Quarter Finals Lower Half

Sherbini Shocks Massaro To Make US Open Semis

Egyptian teenager Nour El Sherbini celebrated her return to WSA World Tour action after a five-month layoff in sparkling fashion - bringing down England's world champion Laura Massaro in the Women's Delaware Investments US Open to reach the semi-finals of the WSA World Series Platinum squash event in Philadelphia for the first time.

It was back in March that the pair last met - in the final of the WSA World Championship in Malaysia where Massaro clinched victory 11-9 in the fifth to win the sport's most prized title for the first time.

After a cagey opening before a capacity crowd on the all-glass court at Drexel University, it was 18-year-old El Sherbini who imposed her will to pull away from four-all, forging ahead to 10-6, then making a couple of unforced errors as Massaro reduced the deficit to 9-10. A trademark volley drop gave El Sherbini the game - then she started the second well, leading 4-2.

But then the world No9 from Alexandria switched off. Or world No2 Massaro stepped up - but the outcome was that the 30-year-old from Preston won the next phase of the game 19-1 as she took the second 11-4 game and the third 11-1!

"Omar [Elborolossy] told me in between games I had to start playing deep shots, to stop her controlling the game," said El Sherbini (pictured above in action with Massaro) afterwards.

The advice clearly worked - the three-time world junior champion led 5-2, then 8-5 before taking the fourth 11-6, and keeping a point or two ahead in the decider.

From 7-5 up, the Egyptian dominated the next five rallies before closing out the match with another volley drop and a clenched fist to win 11-9, 4-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 62 minutes.

"I'm so happy, I was really focussed to win this match," said the triumphant El Sherbini. "Last time in the World Open final I was leading 6-2 in the fifth, so I really didn't want to lose again.

"I don't know what happened in the middle, I was just happy to be able to come back and win it.

"My aim coming into this tournament was just to make the glass court, and now I'm in the semi-final. I feel I'm playing better and better every match so I hope I can continue to play well tomorrow against Camille - she's a very tough player but I'll try my best."

A subdued Massaro told her Twitter followers later: "Lost tonight in the QF of the @USOpenSquash to Nour. Pretty disappointing for me but a break from events now and back to it in December."

It was earlier that France's fourth seed Camille Serme ended Egyptian Yathreb Adel's run - twice fighting back from behind to overcome the 18-year-old qualifier, the lowest-ranked player in the draw, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3 in 71 minutes.

"I felt like I had two opponents today - Yathreb and myself," said Serme (pictured above with Adel) after surviving the longest match of the championship. "I had to push so hard physically and mentally to keep going and play better, but Adel played well. She used everything so that's the game you know. I had to deal with this, but I'm glad to win today."

 

Quarter Finals Top Half

Nicol Sets Up Raneem Revenge Bid In Philadelphia

Malaysia's world No1 Nicol David (right) has set up arguably the biggest revenge match of her career when she meets Egypt's world No3 Raneem El Welily in Friday's semi-finals of the Women's Delaware Investments US Open in Philadelphia.

Both players won their quarter-final matches in the 2014 WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in straight games - David beating compatriot Low Wee Wern and El Welily overturning a defeat by England's Alison Waters in last week's Carol Weymuller Open in New York.

But David's reward is a chance to avenge her last defeat on the WSA World Tour at the Malaysian Open in August - when a shock semi-final win by El Welily denied the Queen of Malaysian squash a place in the final of her country's most high-profile event for the first time in 12 appearances since 2003!

David's match with Wee Wern was a repeat of their Asian Games final in September - an historic first all-Malaysian climax which led to favourite David winning a remarkable fourth gold medal.

Bidding to win a record third successive US Open title, David extended her unbeaten run over her fellow Penangite by beating Low 11-6, 11-4, 11-9.

Unlike the four-game, hour-long Asian Games final in which Low claimed the first game, David controlled the US Open quarter-final from the beginning, forcing a number of Low errors to win the first game. The second ended just as clinically after an even start when David won six straight to clinch the game 11-4.

Low's most formidable response came in the third game when she won three points to level the game at 9-9, at which point David closed out the 40-minute match 11-9.

"It's a different tournament and for me it's another big tournament, so I'm excited to be here," David said of her pristine record in Philadelphia. "It was tough out there today playing Wee Wern, but I'm happy to win in three.

"It's difficult playing against your team-mate, but you have to just think that it's the quarter-finals and whoever is there is a contender, and they're out to get you. I had to be alert and sharp today and I'm really pleased with my performance," added 31-year-old David, now in her 21st successive WSA World Series semi-final since losing in the US Open quarters in 2011.

Earlier, El Welily recovered from 5-0 down to overcome fifth seed Waters 11-9, 11-8, 11-5. Londoner Waters not only beat the Egyptian last week at Heights Casino en-route to winning the biggest title of her career, but also held an 8-2 career head-to-head record over El Welily going into the match.

The most dangerous moment for El Welily came as she reached game ball at 10-9 in the first. Waters' straight return of serve brought up a 'no let' call, but the Egyptian made good use of the video review to get that decision overturned, and promptly won the next rally to take the lead.

"I'm very thankful, and happy to win that match," said the 25-year-old from Cairo. "I don't think Alison was as fresh as she was last week. She wasn't getting to a lot of shots that she was running down in New York.

"The rest days we get in this tournament are great," added El Welily. "It gives you time to relax, chill out, and then prepare for the next round."

It was a typically cool David who commented on her upcoming clash with El Welily, against whom she boasts a 13-3 Tour head-to-head record: "I've had a few tournaments since that match, so I've a few big wins, and I think I'll just bring that forward. I'm looking forward to the semi-finals and I'm ready to go."

 

2nd Round Lower Half

Adel Makes World Series Breakthrough In Philadelphia

Egyptian teenager Yathreb Adel created the biggest second round upset in the Women's Delaware Investments US Open when she despatched eighth seed Annie Au in straight games to celebrate her first appearance in the quarter-finals of a WSA World Series event.

The 18-year-old qualifier from Cairo - the lowest-ranked player in the draw - frustrated the Hong Kong international who never held a lead throughout any of the three games in the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

"I'm very thrilled to be in the quarter-finals of the US Open," said the world No74 (pictured above in action with Au) after her 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 triumph in 28 minutes. "It's such a prestigious event, and it's the first time I've played here."

Adel, the only qualifier to make the last eight, admitted she was happy to turn around the result from her only previous encounter against Au in the Hong Kong Open in December.

"It was last year so I think I improved a lot maybe, and this year I had a different plan and it worked. Last year was the first time I played her so I was used to her shots. I was more concentrated today than I was then."

Adel now faces French international Camille Serme for the first time. The No4 seed from Creteil made it to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011 after ending the run of unseeded Tesni Evans - the Welsh player who upset 13th seed Kasey Brown in the opening round.

"I didn't feel on top of my game physically, so that was a tough day at the office," said world No6 Serme after her 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 victory. "She made it very tough despite having a long match in the last round, so I'm very pleased to win that in three games."

Nour El Sherbini ensured Egyptian interest in three out of the four quarter-finals when she beat England's Jenny Duncalf 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 - not only avenging her defeat by the former world No2 from Harrogate in their last meeting in January 2013, but also moving ahead 3/2 in their career head-to-head tally.

"I wasn't 100% comfortable with my shots today," said the No7 seed (pictured above in action with Duncalf) playing in her first WSA World Tour event since the British Open in May. "It's been a long time since I played a big match on a glass court and Jenny's not the type of player you want to meet in this sort of match.

"It feels amazing to be back, and I'm really pleased and excited that I could be able to come and play here. I know I'll be playing another Englishwoman next, and either Laura [Massaro] or Sarah [Kippax] will be tough, so good luck to them and I hope we have a good match on Thursday."

In the last match of the day, it was second seed Laura Massaro who claimed the final quarter-final slot when she beat England team-mate Sarah Kippax 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 to repeat the result of their previous meeting only a week ago in the Carol Weymuller Open in New York.

"It's really tough whenever you're playing a teammate and friend," said world champion Massaro later. "We played first round in Brooklyn last week, and we practiced together in between, so we played each other a fair bit recently.

"It's always hard because you know each other's games and you're trying to adapt what you've learned so it was good to come out with the win."

 

2nd Round Top Half

David & Low Set Up Mighty Malaysian US Open Quarter-Final

Just two weeks after combining to help Malaysia win team gold in the Asian Games, Nicol David and Low Wee Wern will be on opposite sides of the squash court as they face off for a place in the semi-finals of the 2014 Women's Delaware Investments US Open, the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Sixth seed Wee Wern, now boasting a career-high world No5 ranking, recorded her fourth successive Tour win over Nicolette Fernandes when she beat the 16th seed from Guyana 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3 in just over an hour to reach the event's last eight for the second year in a row.

"I was really struggling at the start," admitted Low (pictured above with Fernandes). "I just couldn't see the ball or find any length. I was struggling through all the games really. She was playing well and putting a lot of pressure on me."

Top seed David is bidding to win a record third successive title. The world No1 played out her 35th Tour match with veteran Australian Rachael Grinham - and earned a 14th successive win over the 2006 champion (since losing the British Open final in 2007) when she beat 37-year-old Grinham 11-1, 11-8, 11-3.

"I think it's the Philly Cheesesteak!" David (pictured above with Grinham) jested when asked about her luck in Philadelphia. "It's been great. I love coming back to Philly. I have so many great memories after winning two US Opens here. I just love this court and the crowd as well. You can just feel the vibe to the whole event, which just makes you want to play good squash.

"Rachael and I have played so many times, she's so experienced and tricky - you have to have plans A, B and C ready against her! I knew I had to be totally focused, and I was really pleased with my performance today."

David's clash with fellow Penangite Low will be their first meeting since contesting the Asian Games individual final in September. "It's always tough going up against your teammate," David continued. "It's great for Malaysia for us both get to the quarter-finals. It's nice to see Wee move up the rankings as well, so I'm looking forward to a good match, but it's still the quarter-finals of the US Open so I'm going to put my focus in and get started strong."

The other quarter-final decided from the first session of second round action will see a repeat of last week's Carol Weymuller Open semi-final clash in New York between Egypt's Raneem El Welily and England's Alison Waters, the third and fifth seeds, respectively.

El Welily, the world No3 from Cairo, reduced the deficit of her 4-7 head-to-head record with compatriot Omneya Abdel Kawy by beating the 10th seed 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.

"I'm very happy with how I played," said El Welily, the 2012 runner-up. "I was moving well - the physio team here are looking after me really well."

Waters faced unseeded Egyptian Nouran Gohar, the 17-year-old prodigy to whom she lost in straight games in their only previous meeting, in the China Open just a year ago.

The Londoner saw a two-game lead cut back by the impressive Cairo teenager before she reasserted her authority in the decider to win 12-10, 11-8, 1-11, 15-17, 11-2 in 62 minutes.

"That was really tough," admitted world No7 Waters. "For 17 years old her hitting is amazing and endless. I'm glad I managed to beat her now, in a couple of years it's going to be very difficult!

"I was still feeling pretty good and quite confident despite losing those match balls in the fourth, but I was glad I was able to come back strongly in the fifth. I think she got a bit excited about the prospect of winning."


 

1st Round Lower Half

Evans Outlasts Retiring WSA President Brown

Unseeded Welsh 21-year-old Tesni Evans denied 13th seed Kasey Brown any further action in the 2014 Women's Delaware Investments US Open when she beat the retiring WSA President on the second day of first round action in the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Runner-up in 2011 and a quarter-finalist for the past two years, Australian Brown had announced this week that she would call it a day at the 2014 championship in Philadelphia, bring to an end a glittering 12-year career on the WSA World Tour.

And the 29-year-old from New South Wales had a second round match in her sights after she built up a two-game lead over her younger opponent.

But Evans kept plugging away, keeping Brown working hard, and pulling away from the middle of the third and fourth game to level the match. And the Cardiff-born underdog did the same in the decider - pulling away from four-all and raising a fist in the direction of the small Welsh contingent in the crowd as she took the game to win the match 7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 after 76 minutes.

"I knew it would be tough - we had a 3/2 last time we played," said world No28 Evans (pictured above in US Open action with Brown). "So at two-nil down I had to believe I could still win, but it's always good to win close matches like that."

Evans later admitted to her Twitter followers: "Was tough to play @kaseybrownSQU today as she retired from the tour! Wish you all the best in the future!"

As Brown came off court for the last time she said: "It's been a great twelve years on the tour, I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's probably a good time to get out now, with all these young kids coming through!"

Evans, now in the US Open last 16 for the first time, will face Camille Serme, the fourth seed from France who ended domestic interest in the event when she beat US wildcard Sabrina Sobhy 11-6, 11-4, 13-11.

Another seed bit the dust when Egyptian qualifier Yathreb Adel emerged unscathed from a physical match against England's Sarah-Jane Perry. The 17-year-old world No74 from Cairo - the lowest-ranked player in the draw - defeated 14th seed Perry 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 in 49 minutes.

"It was such a battle for me," said Adel (pictured above with Perry) after her first meeting with the world No17. "It's the first time I played the US Open and playing in the main draw.

"I was really looking forward to the match and was trying to keep focused as much as I can and not trying to get involved in what's happening on court, so I'm glad I did it!"

Adel will now meet Annie Au after the No8 seed from Hong Kong beat English qualifier Victoria Lust 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.

Adel was joined by compatriot Nour El Sherbini in the second round. Playing in her first Tour event since a shock first round defeat in the British Open in May, seventh seed El Sherbini was drawn against her victor Emma Beddoes - and was after revenge over the English player.

Beddoes has enjoyed a good Tour run over the past few months and currently boasts a career-high world No20 ranking. But El Sherbini, the 18-year-old former world No4, was focussed on her task and after 42 minutes wrapped up her 11-4, 6-11, 11-1, 11-8 victory.

"Actually for me it was a revenge match because my last match against her I lost in the British Open," reiterated El Sherbini. "So when I saw the draw I knew I needed to win this match. I kept the plan and I'm happy to be through.

"My Egyptian teammates mean to me everything when I see them sitting outside," added the talented teenager. "Without them I'm never going to win any match so thank you everyone for being here!"

El Sherbini progresses to a second round clash with England's No11 seed Jenny Duncalf. The 2009 champion, competing in her ninth US Open since 2002, denied further Egyptian interest in the last 16 when she beat Alexandria's Heba El Torky 11-2, 11-5, 11-6.

An English quarter-finalist will be assured after No2 seed Laura Massaro and 15th seed Sarah Kippax face each other in the second round. World champion Massaro eased to an 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 win over South African qualifier Siyoli Waters while world No18 Kippax was taken the full distance by Line Hansen before defeating the Dane 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 11-8.

"Obviously Line's a big fighter, and it's always tough to come back when you're two love down," said a relieved Kippax afterwards. "She always has the capability of doing that. It's quite edgy when you get to that stage, when you've been 2/0 up and it's two all, so I had to just stay calm and stick to my tactics."

World No2 Massaro was upbeat after her first round win: "I love it here," said the 2013 runner-up. "This new court looks and plays great - it's a great way to showcase the women's game.

"US Squash has worked hard to get parity for this event and hopefully others will follow suit.

"Last year's semi and final were pretty brutal," added the 30-year-old from Preston. "I hope I can go one better this year."

 

1st Round Top Half

Scores Settled In US Open Openers

Revenge was the name of the game on the opening day of action in the Women's Delaware Investments US Open when four of the eight matches in the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in Philadelphia gave players the chance to avenge recent defeats.

Nicolette Fernandes, the world No22 from Guyana elevated to 16th seed following the withdrawal of US number one Amanda Sobhy, beat Irish qualifier Aisling Blake 11-5, 12-10, 11-5 to reverse the straight games defeat she suffered at the hands of the Dublin-born world No37 in their previous Tour meeting two years ago.

"This is the farthest I've been in the US Open," said the delighted 31-year-old (pictured above in full flight during her match) later. "It's such a huge event and there is a real vibe to the whole thing, it makes you want to do well here.

"The season's only just begun, but there have been lots of tournaments already," Fernandes continued. "I had to miss the Caribbean Games, which my Federation didn't like, but to get through in an event like this makes it worth it."

Fernandes will now face Low Wee Wern, the No6 seed from Malaysia who also settled a score when she ousted Joey Chan - the world No23 from Hong Kong who came out on top last time on Wee Wern's home soil.

The Malaysian number two battled for 46 minutes to overcome Chan 11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-6 in her first Tour match since recording a career-high world No5 ranking two weeks ago.

"I think Joey played really well today," said Wee Wern. "I was in and out. Mentally, after I lost the third, I was thinking, 'I really need to hold her back and get into the fourth game because you can't give Joey anything with her hands.' So mentally I think it was really hard to get back in the match again after being 2/0 up.

"I love the US Open. It's a great tournament, and it's my fourth time here. I've played a few tournaments leading up to this so I'm looking forward to one more go before I take a quick break."

England's Alison Waters arguably had the biggest score to settle: Just a month ago, in the China Open, the experienced world No7 went down in four games to 18-year Egyptian Salma Hany Ibrahim.

But, fresh from her biggest Tour title success last week at the Carol Weymuller Open in New York, 30-year-old Londoner Waters despatched qualifier Ibrahim 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 to earn a place in the second round for the fifth time in a row since 2007.

"After China I knew it would be tough, and I wasn't taking it lightly," said Waters (pictured above). "I like stepping up the court and volleying and that was working well today, so I'm delighted to come off with a three-nil. She's going to be a real handful over the next few years."

But there was revenge success for another Egyptian teenager when unseeded Nouran Gohar defeated seasoned campaigner Madeline Perry, the 37-year-old ninth seed from Ireland, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9.

The 17-year-old from Cairo will celebrate her first appearance in the event's second round by taking on Waters.

 

Qualifying

Teran Takes Out Khan In US Open Qualifiers

Determined Mexican Samantha Teran denied Latasha Khan a tenth appearance in the main draw of her country's major squash championship when she beat the US veteran in the qualifying finals of the Women's Delaware Investments US Open, the WSA World Series Platinum event at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

World No38 Teran, Mexico's most successful player of all-time (pictured above in action with Khan), defeated 41-year-old Khan - a seven-time US national champion ranked just two places lower - 17-15, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5.

Teran - who made her US Open debut in 2002 - will now take on top seed Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who is bidding to become the first player in the championship's 60-year history to win three titles in a row.

US qualifying bids from Olivia Blatchford, Cecelia Cortes and Maria Elena Ubina also failed - but North American interest in the championship was boosted by Canadian number one Samantha Cornett when the 23-year-old from Ottawa beat Deon Saffery of Wales 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 in 53 minutes.

It was the second time in a week that the Canadian had recovered from the brink of elimination by overcoming a sizable deficit to win a match in five games. "Without even knowing, I think I like going in from behind," said Cornett. "I think there's some kind of trigger at nine or ten that just says, 'Stick...In' and don't give up."

A trio of Egyptians came through the qualifying competition to make their debuts in the championship. At 15 years old, Habiba Mohamed Ahmed became the youngest player in the draw when she survived a five-game battle with local star Olivia Blatchford, winning 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 12-14, 11-7 in 65 minutes.

The Alexandria teenager now faces 12th seed Rachael Grinham, the 37-year-old 2006 champion from Australia, in the first round.
 

Previews

Nicol David Set For Historic US Open Success

Malaysian Nicol David is seeded to become the first player in the 60-year history of the US Open Squash Championships - man or woman - to win three titles in a row when the 2014 event reaches its climax next week in Philadelphia.

The Delaware Investments US Open, a World Series Platinum event on the Women's Squash Association World Tour, gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) at Drexel University, leading to the final on Saturday 18 October. Whilst the Women's Championship made its debut in 1993, it was back in 1954 that the inaugural Men's event took place.

David, who 10 days ago celebrated her 99th successive month at the top of the WSA World Rankings, makes her return to the WSA World Tour this week after winning a remarkable fourth individual gold medal in the quadrennial Asian Games, before leading Malaysia to gold in the women's team event.

"It feels great to know that and I didn't realise it," said the 31-year-old from Penang when hearing of her latest potential three-successive-title record. "My main aim is to start strong here in the first round and to bring in my top performance on the day.

"I've just arrived in Philadelphia and the buzz is kicking in the moment I got here having to play this US Open again. This tournament brings out a vital importance of the women's squash game having equal prize money with the men for the second year running and makes us women squash players kick into another gear to present a top showcase this week.

"The US Open has the same level of prestige like a Grand Slam in tennis being among the four major titles in the squash tour that every player would like to get their name on the challenge trophy," added the event favourite. "I always enjoy coming back competing in this tournament and US Squash with supportive sponsors continue to step it up every year for us to compete in an extraordinary atmosphere each time.

"My goals for the rest of the year are really on each tournament basis. I'll be concentrating on the US Open now then straight after is the Macau Open, in December the World Teams and World Championships to finish off the year. Exciting tournaments still to come that keeps the excitement for me to work harder and stay on track with everything."

David will meet a qualifier in the opening round and is expected to line up against her Malaysian team-mate Low Wee Wern, the sixth seed now ranked a best-ever five in the world, in the quarter-finals.

Egypt's third seed Raneem El Welily, to whom she lost in the Malaysian Open semi-finals in August, is David's predicted semi-final opponent - whilst the event is due to climax in a repeat of the 2013 final between the Malaysian and England's Laura Massaro.

Second seed Massaro is the reigning world champion, ranked two in the world, who will also begin her 2014 US Open campaign against a qualifier.

Hopes of a first ever home winner of the women's title were dealt a blow today when US number one Amanda Sobhy - a semi-finalist in the two previous WSA World Series events - was forced to withdraw as the result of an injury. Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes moves into Sobhy's seeded position in the draw, while England's 20-year-old former European junior champion Emily Whitlock is elevated from the qualifiers into the main draw.