Home Star Massaro Tops Women’s 2016 British Open Draw by Sean Reuthe March 14, 2016
- After falling at the last hurdle against Frenchwoman Camille Serme in
the 2015 Allam British Open, England’s World No.1 Laura Massaro, who
became just the third English player to top the World Rankings this
January, returns to Hull's Airco Arena from March 21 - 27 as favourite
to triumph at the prestigious ‘Wimbledon of Squash’ in one of the most
compelling draws of recent years.
Massaro, the 2013 British
Open champion, has taken two of five PSA World Series titles available
so far during the 2015/16 season, at the US Open and Qatar Classic, but
with Nicol David, Raneem El Welily and Nour El Sherbini all also having
tasted success and with the likes of defending champion Serme,
Tournament of Champions runner-up Amanda Sobhy and serial
semi-finalists Nouran Gohar and Omneya Abdel Kawy also in the mix, the
2016 British Open could be one of the most competitive tournament's in
the event's illustrious history.
Massaro begins her bid for
the title against a qualifier on March 22 en route to what is a likely
quarter-final clash with 2015 winner Serme. El Welily, the woman who
ended David's nine-year reign as World No.1, is seeded to meet Massaro
in the semi-finals while David and El Sherbini could clash in a their
third consecutive World Series semi-final - where the Malaysian will be
hoping to stop a run of three consecutive defeats to the Egyptian.
Serme
will begin her defence with a tricky encounter with tournament wildcard
and local favourite Fiona Moverley while Gohar and Sobhy will be hoping
to progress beyond the last eight stage when they are seeded to meet El
Welily and El Sherbini, respectively.
With Massaro, David,
El Sherbini, Sobhy and Gohar playing some of their best squash in
recent months, Serme returning to winning ways at the recent Cleveland
Classic and El Welily back to the form that saw her top the world
rankings, the 2016 Women’s British Open has all the ingredients to go
down as one of the most thrilling ever.
First Round Draw - 2016 Women's Allam British Open:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Line Hansen (DEN) v [15] Delia Arnold (MAS)
[10] Joelle King (NZL) v Victoria Lust (ENG)
[WC] Fiona Moverley (ENG) v [5] Camille Serme (FRA)
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Heba El Torky (EGY)
[Qualifier] v [9] Annie Au (HKG)
[11] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
[Qualifier] v [16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[12] Alison Waters (ENG) v Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[Qualifier] v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [13] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[14] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
[Qualifier] v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
The
2016 Allam British Open, PSA World Series tournament, takes place in
Hull, England from Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th March. Qualification
rounds will take place at the University of Hull on the 19th & 20th
March while the main draw action will be played at the Airco Arena from
the 21st March.
Tickets for the 2016 Allam British Open can
be booked online at www.isportstore.com, by telephone on (+44) 0 844
8797 949 or, for more information, email sales@isportstore.com
