23/09/2010
WOMEN'S WORLD OPEN
Nicol David Wins Record-Equalling Fifth World Crown In Egypt
Round One
18 Sep |
Round Two
19 Sep |
Quarters
20 Sep |
Semis
21 Sep |
Final
22 Sep |
[1] Nicol David (MAS)
11-2, 11-3, 11-5
(27m)
[Q] Farah Abdel
Meguid (EGY) |
Nicol David
11-7, 11-7, 11-7
(30m)
Raneem El Weleily |
Nicol David
11-2, 11-5, 11-2
(27m)
Low Wee Wern |
Nicol David
14-12, 11-2, 11-6 (38m)
Alison Waters |
Nicol David
11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (30m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
[11] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)
11-3, 11-3, 11-7
(23m)
[Q] Nour El
Sherbini (EGY) |
[7]
Natalie Grinham (NED)
11-9, 9-11, 7-11,
11-7, 13-11 (64m)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) |
Low Wee Wern
8-11, 11-7, 11-5,
11-8 (55m)
Isabelle Stoehr |
[13]
Samantha Teran (MEX)
11-8, 12-10, 11-3
(27m)
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) |
[3]
Alison Waters (ENG)
11-2, 11-2, 11-3
(21m)
[Q] Kanzy Emad
El-Defrawy (EGY) |
Alison
Waters
11-2, 11-7, 14-12
(32m)
Annie Au |
Alison Waters
9-11, 11-4, 11-7,
10-12, 11-8 (56m)
Vanessa Atkinson
|
[16] Annie Au (HKG)
11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (38m)
[Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) |
[6]
Natalie Grainger (USA)
11-5, 5-11, 11-2,
11-6 (33m)
Sarah Kippax (ENG) |
Natalie Grainger
2-11, 9-11,
13-11, 13-11, 11-9 (47m)
Vanessa Atkinson |
[14]
Vanessa Atkinson (NED)
11-4, 9-11, 11-5,
9-11, 14-12 (43m)
[Q] Tenille
Swartz (RSA) |
[Q] Manuela Manetta (ITA)
11-4, 11-5, 11-3
(28m)
[10] Kasey Brown (AUS) |
Kasey Brown
11-7, 9-11, 11-8,
11-8 (100m)
Madeline Perry |
Kasey Brown
11-8, 14-12,
6-11, 11-5 (55m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
Omneya Abdel Kawy
11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (26m)
Camille Serme |
Delia Arnold (MAS)
12-10, 11-9, 11-5
(49m)
[5] Madeline Perry (IRL) |
Donna Urquhart (AUS)
11-5, 11-5, 11-3
(28m)
[15] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) |
Jaclyn Hawkes
11-8, 13-11, 11-4
(34m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
[Q] Tania Bailey (ENG)
11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 (46m)
[4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) |
[Q] Annelize Naude (NED)
9-11, 14-12, 11-4,
11-4 (48m)
[9] Camille Serme (FRA) |
Camille Serme
11-6, 8-11, 12-10,
3-11, 11-6 (60m)
Laura Massaro |
Camille Serme
8-11, 11-7, 7-11,
11-2, 11-5 (57m)
Jenny Duncalf |
Aisling Blake (IRL)
11-3, 13-11, 11-1 (38m)
[8] Laura Massaro (ENG) |
Joelle King (NZL)
2-11, 12-10,
11-8, 12-10 (53m)
[12] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) |
Engy Kheirallah
11-9, 11-9, 11-2
(45m)
Jenny Duncalf |
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) Bye |
Qualifying:
Qualifying finals:
Annelize Naude (NED) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-9, 11-3,
11-8 (32m)
Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-8,
8-11, 13-11, 11-9 (35m)
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-7,
12-10, 14-12 (40m)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Lauren Selby (ENG) 11-9, 11-8,
11-6 (26m)
Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Sharon Wee (MAS) 11-9, 6-11,
13-15, 11-9, 11-7 (64m)
Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-9,
11-5, 11-2 (31m)
Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND)
11-4, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9 (39m)
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-6,
11-4, 7-11, 11-2 (52m)
2nd qualifying round:
Line Hansen (DEN) bt Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-2, 11-9,
11-5 (29m)
Annelize Naude (NED) bt Sina Wall (GER) 9-11, 11-2,
11-6, 11-4 (35m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Sara El Noamany (EGY) 7-11,
11-1, 11-4, 11-2 (39m)
Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-6,
11-7, 11-9 (29m)
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-5, 11-6,
9-11, 7-11, 11-6 (63m)
Heba El Torky (EGY) bt Salma Nassar (EGY) 14-12, 11-2,
12-10 (20m)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Maud Duplomb (FRA) 9-11, 6-11,
11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (45m)
Lauren Selby (ENG) bt Nouran El Torky (EGY) 7-11,
13-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 (61m)
Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11-8,
12-10, 7-11, 11-5 (41m)
Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 9-11, 11-8,
13-11, 4-11, 11-4 (67m)
Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Coline Auma! rd (FRA) 11-4,
11-3, 11-3 (23m)
Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Celia Allamargot (FRA) 11-4,
13-11, 11-9 (26m)
Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) bt Mennat Nasser (EGY)
6-11, 11-2, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9 (56m)
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Faustine Gilles (FRA) 2-11,
11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (31m)
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Salma Hatem Youssef (EGY)
11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (27m)
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Haidi Lala (EGY) 11-7, 11-5,
11-2 (24m)
1st qualifying round:
Sara El Noamany (EGY) bt Mayar Aly Ezzo (EGY) 11-2,
11-8, 11-3 (20m)
Salma Nassar (EGY) bt Nada Elkalaawy (EGY) 12-10,
11-4, 11-7 (22m)
Salma Hany (EGY) bt Merhan Amr Mahmoud (EGY) 5-11,
11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (42m)
Mennat Nasser (EGY) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 13-11, 5-11,
6-11, 11-3, 11-8 (55m)
Salma Hatem Youssef (EGY) bt Nihal Alaa Bayoumi (EGY)
11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (21m)
Haidi Lala (EGY) bt Karina Heredia Gonzalez (MEX)
11-4, 11-2, 11-6 (14m)
|
Nicol David Wins Record-Equalling
Fifth World Crown In Egypt
Malaysia's
Nicol David won a record-equalling fifth World Open squash
title in Egypt tonight when she beat local hope Omneya Abdel Kawy
in straight games in the final of the $147,000 Soho Square
Women's World Open in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho
Square at Sharm El Sheikh.
It was the
latest chapter in the illustrious 27-year-old from Penang's career
which was marked earlier this month by her 50th successive month at
the top of the world rankings.
The pint-sized
Malaysian superstar continued the form she has shown throughout the
tournament, looking supremely calm and confident, stroking the ball
to all four corners and accelerating when necessary.
Abdel Kawy,
the fourth seed from Cairo who became the first Egyptian ever to
reach the world final, was unable to get a foothold in the match
until the second game, which she led 3-0 and 6-3.
But
David was unruffled, and stepped up the pace to take the game. And
the third was soon effectively decided with David taking leads of
3-1 and 7-2 before closing out the match 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 after 30
minutes.
"My focus was
strong throughout the tournament," said David after the successful
defence of the title in which she did not drop a single game. "I
really wanted this. I didn't want to let it slip."
Nicol David
became the dominant force in women's world squash shortly after the
retirement of Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the distinguished Australian
who first notched up a fifth World Open title in 2002.
"It's amazing
that I can do something that Sarah has done, because she's such a
great player," concluded the new champion – now the winner of 48
WISPA World Tour titles from 63 final appearances.
|
Abdel Kawy Sets Up Dream World Final In Sharm El Sheikh
Omneya Abdel Kawy
provided the dream climax to the $147,000 Soho Square Women's
World Open Squash Championship in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of
Soho Square at Sharm El Sheikh by becoming the first
Egyptian to reach a World Open final in the event's maiden
staging in her home country.
A
beaten quarter-finalist for the past five year, the 25-year-old from
Cairo finally secured her place in the last four of the richest ever
WISPA World Tour squash event when she defeated rising
Australian star Kasey Brown.
But awaiting the fourth seed in the next round was event
giant-killer Camille Serme, the No9 seed from Paris who had
become France's first ever semi-finalist after stunning England's
No2 seed Jenny Duncalf.
The Egyptian favourite was in control for most of the match, with
Serme at times looking tired, perhaps after her exertions in the
quarter-finals. Although the world No9 never let Abdel Kawy streak
ahead, in the first two games she was always playing catch-up - and
the crowd favourite took advantage to take a two game lead.
Serme made a good start to the third, leading 3-0 and 5-3, but Kawy
struck back, and once she had levelled at five-all the result was
never in doubt.
"It was the first time I had even been in the World Open
semi-final, and I was really focussed," Abdel Kawy said after
notching up her 25th WISPA Tour final appearance.
"I
put the pressure on myself to deliver and it worked.
"I
had to win it," she added. "My home country, the fans, no way I
could lose, no excuses."
In
the final, Abdel Kawy will face defending champion Nicol David,
the world number one from Malaysia who ended the English challenge
with a three-game defeat of third seed Alison Waters.
Waters maintained a slight lead for most of the first game - but,
just as in their two previous meetings this year in the Malaysian
Open and Singapore Open, was unable to finish it off as
David took a 1/0 lead.
It
was downhill thereafter for the top seed as David swept through the
second, and ultimately took the third to record the 14-12, 11-2,
11-6 win, and her 16th successive victory over the Londoner.
"I
am just glad to be in the final," said David. "This was definitely a
big hurdle to get over. Against Alison I always have to play my best
game. It was a difficult match, even though the score doesn't show
it.
"It's sure to be a tough match with Omneya like it always is," added
the 27-year-old from Penang. "I'll have to bring everything out of
my bag!"
Serme Stuns Second Seed In Major World Open Upset
Just 24 hours after upsetting the No8 seed to become the first
French player to reach the event's quarter-finals, France's
Camille Serme ousted England's second seed Jenny Duncalf
to make the last four of the Soho Square Women's World Open,
the richest ever WISPA World Tour squash event, in the
Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho Square at Sharm El Sheikh.
The 21-year-old ninth seed from Paris twice came from behind to
record her sensational 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-5 victory over the
world No2 in 57 minutes.
"It was a strange feeling at 3-0.
Straight away you start thinking about winning and I said to myself
'don't think about that'," Serme explained.
"She came back and it was close and then I played well again. I was
trying to think about playing point by point and trying not to think
about the score."
Serme will now face Omneya Abdel Kawy, the fourth seed from
Egypt who ended the brave run of Australia's Kasey Brown,
beating the tenth seed 11-8, 14-12, 6-11, 11-5.
"I
had memories of the last World Open when I was up against
Rachael (Grinham) and went on to lose 3/2," said Abdel Kawy, who was
spurred on by the home crowd. "Kasey played attacking squash in the
third, which she hadn't in the first two, and I was a bit too
relaxed. She's improved a lot lately and she made it a difficult
match."
The other semi-final will be the one predicted by the draw, in which
favourite Nicol David will line up against third seed
Alison Waters.
David, the world No1 from Malaysia, defeated fellow Penangite Low
Wee Wern 11-2, 11-5, 11-2, whilst Waters took five games to see
off Vanessa Atkinson, the former world champion from the
Netherlands, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8 in 56 minutes.
"It feels good, it's always harder to play a team-mate, especially
in the quarters of the World Open," said David, who is seeded
to win a record-equalling fifth world title in Egypt. "You just have
to go out and play your best. I was feeling the ball really early,
and I feel the best I've ever been."
England number two Waters, now in her second successive semi, said
after her win: "I played well enough to get good starts, but then
got to thinking too much about the next match, rather than
concentrating on what I was supposed to be doing."
"She was more relaxed when she was down and showed what a great
player she is, and I got a bit tense and went for winners too
early," admitted the Londoner
"There's a few things to work on, but a win's a win and I'll take a
World Open semi-final!"
Upsets Abound In Sharm El Sheikh World Open
Whilst the top four seeds will line up in the quarter-finals of the
Soho Square Women's World Open in the Egyptian Red Sea resort
of Soho Square at Sharm El Sheikh, their opponents
will not be those expected by the draw of the richest ever WISPA
World Tour squash event.
Camille Serme
began the rout when she upset England's eighth seed Laura Massaro
11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6 to become the first French player to
reach a World Open quarter-final.
The 21-year-old from Paris twice led, and was pegged back twice -
but in a decider characterised by long, tense rallies, it was
underdog Serme who was more assertive, and found enough
opportunities to utilise her volleys and delicate drops to progress.
"I think I made it because I was
fresh at the end - and the match was tough physically," Serme told
the official website
www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010
after her 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6 victory in exactly an hour
"I
wanted this so much and I think that made me focussed on playing the
right shot at the right time. Some of the time I try to do too much
at the front of the court. I try to play there like the Egyptians -
and you can't do that all of the time!"
Serme will now face another English opponent Jenny Duncalf,
the No2 seed who - after a receiving a bye in the first round -
began her 2010 world campaign by beating Egypt's Engy Kheirallah
11-9, 11-9, 11-2.
"I
was itching to get on court - watching everyone else play made me
want to get on there," said the world No2 from Harrogate. "Being the
only player to have a bye can work for or against you, but I guess I
can't complain, everyone else would like to have a bye!"
Ireland's Madeline Perry, the fifth seed who celebrated the
best win of her career at last month's Australian Open, was
brought down to earth in the second round by Australia's tenth seed
Kasey Brown.
But the world No8 from New South Wales had to battle for 100 minutes
to overcome Perry 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8.
"Madeline's been playing well and she had a lot of confidence from
winning the Australian and the Irish, but I just kind of thought to
myself, 'I'm not going to lose this' - and didn't think about the
result at all and just tried to play the best squash I could each
point.
"It's my best World Open performance so far, for me this is
the most prestigious event so to make the quarters is a big deal,"
added the New York-based 25-year-old.
Low Wee Wern
became the only unseeded player to make the last eight when she beat
France's Isabelle Stoehr, also unseeded, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5,
11-8.
The 20-year-old from Penang claimed her unexpected place in the
second round after upsetting four-time runner-up Natalie Grinham
on the opening day,
"It was pretty close," said Low Wee Wern afterwards. "In the
first she was in great form and I just had to hang in with her, she
was high on confidence after a good win yesterday.
"It's great to be in the quarters for the first time."
Her next opponent will be fellow Penangite Nicol David, the
top seed. David, the world number one hoping to win a
record-equalling fifth world title, beat Egypt's 11th seed Raneem
El Weleily 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.
Two of the sport's longest-serving professionals fought out their
17th Tour clash since 1999 when sixth seed Natalie Grainger
and 14th seed Vanessa Atkinson took to the court. Former
world number one Granger, from the USA, took the opening two games -
but Dutch star Atkinson, also once No1 in the world, romped to an
8-3 lead in the third before Grainger reached her first match ball
at 11-10.
Atkinson, 5/11 down in their head-to-head tally, saved this - and
another in the next game before going on to record an impressive
2-11, 9-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-9 victory after 47 minutes.
"She was playing so well, and I didn't feel like I was doing
anything wrong - it was just a question of sticking in there,"
Atkinson said. "She's such a good squash player that if she plays
like she did in the first game and half the second game there are no
weaknesses.
"I've played 15 World Opens and I think that is plenty,"
added the 34-year-old. "I just wanted to come here and feel that I
have done myself justice - and I think I have done that."
Stoehr & Low Stun Seeds In Sharm Shake-Up
Natalie Grinham,
four times a finalist in the last six years, failed to make the
second round of the Soho Square Women's World Open Squash
Championship after going down in five games on the opening day
of main draw action in the richest ever WISPA World Tour
squash event in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho Square at
Sharm El Sheikh.
The seventh seed from the Netherlands was making only her second
Tour appearance since the birth of her son Keiran in May. After four
close games, Grinham looked set to advance when she reached 10-5 in
the decider against 20-year-old Low Wee Wern (left).
But the young Malaysian kept it steady, held her nerve and got the
better of some long, tense rallies to finally edge home 11-9, 9-11,
7-11, 11-7, 13-11 after 64 minutes.
"I hadn't played her before, but
I knew her fitness wouldn't be back yet - although her shots
certainly are," the world No20 from Penang told the official website
www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010
later. "I had to just keep running.
"At 5-10 in the fifth, I just had to keep it going and stay patient.
I thought that if I didn't go for a winner she might, and she did
make four mistakes. This is my best World Open performance."
Her next opponent claimed the day's other upset. Unseeded
Isabelle Stoehr beat Mexico's 13th seed Samantha Teran
11-8, 12-10, 11-3 to become the second French player in the last
sixteen.
"I
hope I can continue it against Isabelle," added Low Wee Wern.
"I've never played her before either."
Defending champion Nicol David successfully negotiated her
first hurdle as she bids to win a record-equalling fifth title. The
world number one from Malaysia beat 18-year-old Malaysian qualifier
Farah Abdel Meguid 11-2, 11-3, 11-5.
Women's World Open Offers Free Live TV Internet Coverage
The Soho Square Women's World Open Squash Championship, the
richest-ever event in women's squash which gets underway in Egypt
today, is offering free live internet TV coverage to squash fans
around the world.
The $147,000 WISPA World Tour championship has attracted the
world's top players to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho Square
at Sharm El Sheikh - led by Nicol David, the world
number one from Malaysia who is bidding to win a record-equalling
fifth world title.
The live coverage can be accessed at
www.LiveSquash.TV
"Last year from Amsterdam, we broke all webcast audience records
with over 10,000 individual viewers watching the action live and
taking the sport to a new and younger audience and replays and
downloads have proved to be very popular," said LiveSquash spokesman
Adrian Battersby.
"As usual, Replays will be available on LiveSquash.tv of every
single match that we produce and replays will be loaded of all
matches quickly so that they are available for your enjoyment as
Live on-demand or as Downloads as soon as possible."
For all the latest information, check out the official event
website:
www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010
Egyptians Flourish In World Open Qualifiers
Egyptian interest in The Soho Square Women's World Open Squash
Championship was boosted when four local players clinched
qualifying places in the main draw of the premier WISPA World
Tour squash event in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho
Square at Sharm El Sheikh.
Farah Abdel Meguid
kicked off the assault by beating America's recently-crowned world
junior champion Amanda Sobhy 11-8, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9.
"I'm speechless, I just beat the
world junior champion in the world open!" the 18-year-old from Cairo
told the official website
www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010
later.
"I
played her in a local league match before the world juniors and won,
so I knew I could do it and I had a feeling before the match I would
win, but I knew it wouldn't be easy, it's a big tournament.
"Now I just hope all the other Egyptians can win."
Her wish came nearer to a reality when Nour El Tayeb got the
better of England's Lauren Selby, winning 11-9, 11-8, 11-6.
"I
played much better than yesterday, not the best I can but still much
better," said the 17-year-old from Cairo. "I'm so pleased to be in
the main draw for the second time in a row."
Nour El Sherbini,
the 14-year-old from Alexandria who last week became the youngest
winner of a WISPA World Tour title, took her place in the
main draw after defeating India's Dipika Pallikal 11-9, 11-5,
11-2.
Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy
completed the Egyptian quartet with another Indian defeat, beating
Joshna Chinappa 11-4, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9.
"When I saw the other three win before me I said yes, let's go on
and make it four," exclaimed the Cairo 16-year-old. "I played well
but when I was two games up I froze, I panicked and I thought I was
going to lose. But I said to myself no, let's make this happen!
"I'm really happy with what I've done and I'm so happy to qualify
after just missing out last year. I hope I don't get one of the top
players."
There was a late revision to the main draw when Australia's former
world champion Rachael Grinham announced her decision to
withdraw from the event due to injury.
Swartz Beats Beddoes In World Open Qualifier
South Africa's Tenille Swartz pulled off the biggest upset in
the second qualifying round of The Soho Square Women's World Open
Squash Championship to stake an unexpected place in the
qualifying finals of the premier WISPA World Tour squash
event in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Soho Square at
Sharm El Sheikh.
Swartz, playing in her second World Open but her first since
2006 due to a series of injuries, took a two-game lead over the
event's third seed Emma Beddoes, but the English player
fought back to level the match before the 23-year-old underdog from
Cape Town asserted herself in the decider to win 11-5, 11-6, 9-11,
7-11, 11-6 in 63 minutes.
"Emma changed the pace in the
third and the match became much tougher," Swartz told the official
website
www.sohosquareworldopen.com/2010
later.
"I've played her before so I knew what to expect - we're both
runners and never give anything up. We had a good match, I really
enjoyed it!"
Line Hansen,
the qualifying event's top seed from Denmark, overcame South African
Siyoli Waters 11-2, 11-9, 11-5 - and was a little relieved.
"I'm happy enough with that, it was a good opening match," said the
27-year-old world No29 from Odense. "We played in March and I won
3/0 then, but she's improving all the time."
The Dane will now face Dutch star Annelize Naude, who ousted
Germany's Sina Wall 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4.
"She played well in the first, and I was a little nervous," admitted
the 33-year-old from Amsterdam. "I don't know why - it's not exactly
my first World Open, in fact I've stopped counting!"
World junior champion Amanda Sobhy was up next, and the
17-year-old American star was upstaged in the first game by Egyptian
Sara El Noamany, who admitted earlier that she'd never seen
Sobhy - a frequent visitor to Egypt - play.
Once Sobhy got into her stride, though, the teenager cruised through
the next three games to claim a 7-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-2 victory.
"She took me a little by surprise in the first," admitted Sobhy.
"She's strong and powerful and she caught me off my guard, but once
I started to play my game I felt well in control.
"Last year I was the last player to make it into the draw, so there
was no pressure on me at all - but this year I'm seeded in
qualifying so it makes you a bit more nervous, but I hope I can do
well tomorrow."
Farah Abdel Meguid
was the first Egyptian winner of the day, creating a minor upset
with a straight games win over Lucie Fialova, the 13th seed
from the Czech Republic.
"I
thought I played well there," said a delighted Meguid after her
11-6, 11-7, 11-9 win. "It's my first World Open - I wanted to
make a good start so I had to make sure I won the first two games.
"She came back well in the third, I could have lost that but I'm
pleased to make it through in straight games."
Heba El Torky
added to the good news for the hosts in beating compatriot Salma
Nassar 14-12, 11-2, 12-10.
"We've been playing each other since we were nine, and she's never
beaten me," admitted Heba. "But the first match of a tournament,
especially WISPA, especially World Open, is always hard, and
in the first game especially I wasn't focused."
The final two matches of the first session both went the distance,
as Egypt's Nour El Tayeb came from two games down to thwart
France's Maud Duplomb 9-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7, while
England's Lauren Selby held off of typically feisty challenge
from Nouran El Torky, Heba's younger sister.
The day was rounded off with victories for two experienced players,
both trying to regain their former form and rankings, both up
against yet more young Egyptians. Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes
beat Salma Hatem Youssef 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, and England's
Tania Bailey, an unusual face in qualifying, beat Haidi Lala
11-7, 11-5, 11-2.
"I
haven't had to qualify since I was 19, in 1998 in Stuttgart," said
30-year-old Bailey. It was when Fitz [Sarah Fitz-Gerald] beat
Michelle [Martin] 3-2 in the final. I remember it because I
qualified and played Fitz in the first round!"
Nicol
David Aiming To Be In ‘Seventh Heaven’ In Sharm El Sheikh
Undefeated
throughout this year, Malaysia's world number one Nicol David
hopes to be in ‘seventh heaven’ next week in the Egyptian Red Sea
resort of Sharm El Sheikh where she is seeded to win her
seventh WISPA World Tour squash title of the year at The
Soho Square World Open.
The 2010
Women's World Open, the premier championship on the women’s tour and
first in the event’s 31-year history to be held in Egypt, boasts a
record prize fund of $147,000.
The
tournament, from 18-22 September, will be staged on an all-glass
show court at Soho Square Sharm El Sheikh, part of the
premier resort in Sharm El Sheikh’s shopping and entertainment
complex where a successful Soho Square WISPA Tour event was held in
2009.
Nicol David,
Malaysia’s most successful sportswoman of all-time, is back at the
top of her game after contrasting fortunes over the two previous
years: In 2008, the 27-year-old from Penang secured ten titles in a
row without defeat, yet the following year suffered four shock
defeats while ‘only’ picking up seven Tour titles.
David is
delighted to be competing in Sharm El Sheikh for the first time:
“I've been to Sharm for a day trip, but this is my first time
playing there - so I'm even more excited about it.
“I've heard
all good things of how the event has been run in the previous squash
tournaments held there - and to be at a beach resort is an added
bonus!
“As Egypt is a
big power house for squash overall, this is a great chance to
showcase the sport while giving us players a chance to play in a
brand new location with perks.”
2010 has
proved to be a great year already for the Malaysian Squash
Princess: In July, David reached her eighth Malaysian Open
final in a row, then celebrated her sixth successive success – and
in last month’s Hong Kong Open clocked up her 47th
Tour title in the 62nd Tour final appearance of her
career.
“I'm enjoying
everything about the tour and it's been great so far with the
tournaments,” admitted the modest Penangite. “No doubt it's always
hard work keeping up with things but I love the game so much that it
keeps me going.”
Success in
Sharm El Sheikh would give Nicol David a record fifth World Open
title – an achievement she would share with close friend and mentor
Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the distinguished Australian who retired
with 62 WISPA Tour titles to her credit.
“Equalling her
record would certainly be an amazing accomplishment for me,
especially knowing that Sarah has done it all in the squash world
and she really is a true champion,” said David.
“But at the
moment, my main focus is working on a performance base and the
results will follow accordingly.”
Nicol David
begins her 2010 world title campaign against a qualifier – and is
scheduled to face Jenny Duncalf, the world No2 and second
seed from England, in the final.
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Preview
Nicol David Seeded To Win
Record-Equalling Fifth World Title In Egypt
Malaysia’s
world number one Nicol David is set to equal Australian Sarah
Fitz-Gerald’s record five women’s world squash titles in the Egyptian Red
Sea resort of Soho Square at Sharm El Sheikh next month, according
to the draw for The Soho Square World Open revealed today by the
Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA).
The first
Women's World Open ever to be held in Egypt, the leading event on the WISPA
World Tour will feature a record prize fund of $147,000.
The tournament
will be staged on an all-glass show court at Soho Square Sharm El Sheikh,
part of the premier resort in Sharm El Sheikh’s shopping and entertainment
complex. Following the successful Soho Square WISPA Tour event held in 2009,
the high-end destination resort built permanent squash courts, on which the
three rounds of qualification will be played.
It was in
December 2005, three years after Sarah Fitz-Gerald made history with her fifth
world title in Qatar, that Nicol David began the assault on her mentor’s
record. The 26-year-old from Penang clinched her fourth world title in five
years last September, beating Dutch rival Natalie Grinham in the final in
her hometown of Amsterdam.
David, who has
dominated the women’s game since first topping the world rankings in January
2006, has already overtaken one of Fitz-Gerald’s achievements - surpassing her
regular Australian training partner to become the player with the third longest
reign at the top of the women's rankings.
Nicol David
begins her 2010 world title campaign against a qualifier – and is scheduled to
face Jenny Duncalf, the second seed from England, in the final.
But the
Malaysian could come up against Natalie Grinham in the quarter-finals in
a repeat of the 2009 final. Grinham, the No8 seed, is making her Tour comeback
after giving birth to her first child, son Kieran, in May.
Jenny Duncalf
became world No2 last December following two shock wins over David. But the
Penangite re-established her authority over 27-year-old Duncalf with victories
in three WISPA Gold event finals this year.
Duncalf faces
rising Hong Kong star Annie Au in the first round and is likely to go on
to meet fifth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy in the quarter-finals. The
25-year-old Egyptian has long been a thorn in Duncalf's side – and boasts an 8-2
head-to-head Tour record over the Englishwoman.
If Duncalf does
progress to the semi-finals, her anticipated opponent would be Rachael
Grinham, the third seed from Australia who is one of two former world
champions in the draw. The 33-year-old Queenslander won the title in 2007 after
beating younger sister Natalie in the final in Madrid.
But Grinham
senior also has a tough potential quarter-final clash – with Ireland's
Madeline Perry, the sixth seed who celebrated the biggest tournament win of
her career at the Australian Open in Canberra on Sunday.
Former world
number one Natalie Grainger will be returning to World Open action after
missing the 2009 event because of a foot injury. The No7 seed from the USA made
her debut in the 1993 event in her then home country South Africa. Runner-up in
2002, Grainger will face England's Sarah Kippax in the opening round in
Egypt.
Dutch star
Vanessa Atkinson will be making her 14th successive appearance in the
championship. The 2004 champion is the 15th seed, and faces a qualifier in the
first round.
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