Canada'a Cornett Beats No 21 Line Hansen to Gain Worlds Round of 16 by Howard Harding March 19, 2014
- Canada's Samantha Cornett became the second qualifier to claim an
unexpected place in the last 16 of the Penang CIMB Women's World Squash
Championship when she upset Line Hansen, the 16th seed from Denmark, in
today's second day of first round action in the premier Women's Squash
Association (WSA) event at the SPICE Arena in Penang, Malaysia.
"The feeling is great,
just great," said the world No38 from Ottawa after her shock 11-5,
11-7, 11-7 win in 32 minutes over the higher-ranked Hansen. "I don't
know what else to say. I almost cried to be honest.
"I've never really thought about making the top 16 and I didn't have the best results prior either.
"I know I felt
confident and comfortable as the match went on. But I'll probably have
to change my flight now because I'm supposed to fly home on Friday,"
added Cornett, now North America's sole representative in the last 16
round.
The 23-year-old will
now face local star Low Wee Wern, the No6 seed from Penang who will
join fellow Penangite Nicol David in the second round after seeing off
Australian Donna Urquhart.
Urged on by the
partisan crowd, Wee Wern - who has struggled for some form lately - was
slow off the blocks but returned strongly for an 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 win.
Urquhart who was once
ranked as high as No13 in the world, only really came into the match in
the third game, as she held an 8-7 lead over the Malaysian.
Wee Wern, who turns 24
in July, however regained her composure for four straight points before
sealing her ticket into the top 16.
"The score seemed easy
but it was never easy with Donna. We've had some close matches in the
past and I had to be really on my toes at all times," said Wee Wern.
"I was actually trying
to go for a 3/0 win instead of staying on court longer because I wanted
to be as fresh as I could for the next round.
"There were some good rallies too and I'm really pleased with the result. Definitely the best start to the worlds."
There was however no
such joy for Malaysian junior Vanessa Raj who just seemed to enjoy the
occasion despite losing to world No2 Laura Massaro.
The 18-year-old
Vanessa, also from Penang, received a wildcard to compete in the main
draw and gave a creditable performance despite losing 7-11, 4-11, 1-11
to the second-seeded Englishwoman.
Massaro will go on to
meet England team-mate Jenny Duncalf in the second round. Duncalf, the
former world No2 who played alongside Massaro when England won the 2001
World Junior Team Championships in the same arena, was sublime as she
eliminated Kiwi qualifier Megan Craig 11-8, 11-4, 11-3.
Egypt's third seed
Raneem El Welily; seventh seed Madeline Perry, from Ireland; India's
10th seed Dipika Pallikal; and 15th seed Sarah-Jane Perry from England
all made the second round in straight games.
The Perry pair (no relation) will meet each other for a place in the quarter-finals.
RESULTS: Penang CIMB Women's World Squash Championship, Penang, Malaysia
1st round (lower half of draw): [15] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 (26m) [7] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-8, 13-11, 11-2 (37m) [10] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 (32m) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (25m) [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt [16] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (32m) [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (32m) [9] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Megan Craig (NZL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 (23m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [WC] Vanessa Raj (MAS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 (25m)
2nd round line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) [8] Camille Serme (FRA) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [5] Joelle King (NZL) v [13] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [7] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [15] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [10] Dipika Pallikal (IND) [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [9] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
