Unseeded Teenager Wins First WSA Tour Final In Turkey
by Matt Wagg
April 10, 2011 - Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed claimed the $5K Avrupa Konutlari International title at the weekend, in her first ever WSA World Tour final.
The 15-year-old, who last year won the British Junior U15 Open, fought her way past four seeded players to reach an all-Egyptian teenage final against 19-year-old No2 seed Farah Abdel Meguid.
The world No113, from Alexandria, Egypt, first defeated No4 seed Laura Pomportes of France in four games, before casually dispatching No5 seed Sabrina Sobhy and top seed Birgit Coufal on route to the final.
Runner-up Farah beat Milnay Louw of South Africa and No7 seed Sally Skaarenborg, before taking four games to see off gutsy qualifier Cheyna Tucker, who had already taken out seeds Chloe Mesic and Maud Duplomb on her way to the semi-finals.
The older Egyptian seemed to have the upped hand in the final, taking the lead in the first game and again in the third. The London Open runner-up was looking to claim her first title in three WSA World Tour final appearances, but Salma hit back to claim the last two games and win her first WSA title on the first attempt.
Final:
Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed (EGY) bt [2] Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6
Semi-finals:
Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed (EGY) bt [1] Birgit Coufal (AUT) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5
[2] Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [Q] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt [8] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed (EGY) bt [5] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4
[Q] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [3] Maud Duplomb (FRA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
[2] Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [7] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN) 11-3, 11-9, 11-9
1st round:
[1] Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt [Q] Victoria Bell (ENG) 11-6, 11-2, 11-9
[8] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt [Q] Catherine Finlayson (ENG) 13-11, 11-9, 11-8
Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed (EGY) bt [4] Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9
[5] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Cyrielle Peltier (FRA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4
[Q] Cheyna Tucker (RSA) bt [6] Chloe Mesic (FRA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-3
[3] Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt Habiba Mohamed Ahmed Alymohmed (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 15-13
[7] Sally Skaarenborg (DEN) bt Anna-Carin Forstadius (SWE) 14-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3
[2] Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt [Q] Milnay Louw (RSA) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9
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