Qualifying Trio Upset The Seedings As Women's Wadi Degla Open Kicks Off by Nathan Clarke
photo PSA
October 31, 2016
- A triumvirate of qualifiers shook up the Women's Wadi Degla Open as
main draw action at the PSA W50 tournament got underway in Cairo today
with Welsh number one Tesni Evans joining Egyptian duo Salma Hany
Ibrahim and Mariam Metwally in securing unexpected places in the
quarter-finals.
Evans, World No.27, put in a display of typical shot-making artistry as
she secured a 3-1 win over number six seeded Delia Arnold of Malaysia
while Ibrahim downed World No.8 Omneya Abdel Kawy in straight games,
taking advantage of her elder compatriot's lack of court-time since
getting married earlier this season.
The pair will now meet in the quarter-finals where victory for either
would take them through to arguably the biggest match of their careers.
“I'm really happy with that win,” said Evans., who secured the match
with a surge from 2-6 down in the fourth game to take it 11-8.
“There were a few thoughts in my head when I was 2-0 up. I've had a lot
of five game loses in the first rounds of tournaments and it was in my
head that this could be going to five again. So I'm a little frustrated
that I didn't see it out in three, but in the end it was a case of
relief more than frustration.
“I'm looking forward to the quarters now. It will be tough, but I'm
really looking forward to the opportunity to make a major semi-final.”
Metwally meanwhile put in a gargantuan effort to come form 0-2 down to
defeat Dipika Pallikal Karthik. It was the Indian number two who
controlled the early proceedings, dictating the play and hitting with
ferocious power to take the opening two games without much difficulty
but the World No.19 went completely off the the boil in the third game,
losing her intensity and looking sluggish.
Metwally took full advantage, outplaying, and out-thinking Pallikal Karthik to set up a last eight battle with Nouran Gohar.
"My coaches told me, after the second, just to enjoy my game and forget about the score," said Metwally.
"The last time we played I beat her and I think maybe I had a little
bit of pressure on myself that I should beat her today. After the
second I think my game started to come together and I'm really, really
happy with that win.
Gohar saw off Wildcard Amina Yousry in straight-games to secure her
last eight spot with top seeded Nicol David also getting her campaign
off to a comfortable start with a 3-0 win over Denmark's Line Hansen.
“I think I started well and got through that match quite solid,” said David.
“I maybe went off slightly at the end of the third game so I just had
to make sure I stayed in there to get those last few points to take it
3-0.
“I had to make sure I was tighter in the second and third and I was happy that I managed to play my game.”
Results: Women's Wadi Degla Open First Round
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 (30m)
[5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 17-15 (45m)
[8] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 3-2: 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4 (44m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-6 (26m)
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 (27m)
[Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [6] Delia Arnold (MAS) 3-1: 11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8 (40m)
[Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt [7] Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) 3-2: 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (54m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [WC] Amina Yousry (EGY) 3-0: 14-12, 11-8, 11-5 (36m)
Draw - Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[8] Donna Urquhart (AUS) v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
