David, Massaro Win BO Openers, World Finalist El Sherbini Upset by Howard Harding May 13, 2014
- Britons led a widespread cull of seeds in today's opening day of main
draw action in the Women's Allam British Open Squash Championship, the
Women's Squash Association (WSA) World Series Platinum event at the
University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre in Hull.
England's unseeded
Emma Beddoes kicked off the upsets, taking out Egypt's 13th seed Nour
El Sherbini 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 in 50 minutes to claim a first
appearance in the second round of the historic championship at her
seventh attempt.
It was teenager El
Sherbini who made headlines at this year's WSA World Championship after
ousting seven-time champion and world No1 Nicol David en-route to the
final - a run which led the 18-year-old from Alexandria to leap to No7
in the latest world rankings.
"I'm a bit shocked to
be honest - in a good way though, of course," said Beddoes, the
28-year-old world No20 from Leeds. "I knew it'd been playing well -
getting to the quarter finals in Texas gave me lots of confidence - so
I guess the pressure was on her coming into the match. I just played my
game and I'm delighted to win!
"The Worlds and the
British Open are the two major events that everyone wants to win, so I
obviously wanted to do well but I hadn't put any expectations on myself
as I knew I had a tough draw."
A short time later
Beddoes was joined in the last 16 by compatriot Sarah Kippax, the world
No22 from Halifax who fought back from 2/1 down to see off 10th seed
Jenny Duncalf, also from Yorkshire, 11-6, 2-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-8 in 57
minutes.
At the end of the day,
qualifier Tesni Evans ensured Welsh interest in the second round for
the first time in more than two decades when she upset India's No12
seed Dipika Pallikal, the world No10, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11 in
65 minutes.
The 21-year-old from
Rhyl, ranked 32 in the world, now faces British champion Alison Waters,
the No5 seed from London, ranked 26 places higher.
Nicolette Fernandes
will also be celebrating an unexpected maiden appearance in the second
round after dismissing former finalist Madeline Perry, the No8 seed
from Ireland, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4.
"It was clear Madeline
wasn't quite right," conceded the Guyana star, who will now line up
against Kippax. "It's hard to keep your focus but I thought I did that
well. She has been one of the most consistent players for so long so
she's always dangerous even when she isn't 100%.
"Sarah and I practice
all the time so I'm just going to go on and enjoy it," added the
30-year-old world No19. "I'm enjoying my squash at the moment and
that's helping me play well."
One of the event's
greatest stars also bowed out unexpectedly. Four-time champion Rachael
Grinham, the 15th seed from Australia, twice led unseeded Joshana
Chinappa. But the world No21 from India held her nerve to win 7-11,
11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6 to secure a first time in the last 16.
The event's top two
seeds comfortably overcame their initial hurdles as they began their
bid to meet in Sunday's final. Top seed Nicol David defeated Egyptian
qualifier Heba El Torky 11-8, 12-10, 11-8, while England's defending
champion Laura Massaro, the No2 seed, despatched Joey Chan of Hong Kong
11-3, 11-4, 11-7 in just 26 minutes.
RESULTS: Women's Allam British Open, Hull, England
2nd round line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [6] Camille Serme (FRA) v [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [5] Alison Waters (ENG) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) [4] Joelle King (NZL) v Joshana Chinappa (IND) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [14] Kasey Brown (AUS) [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Emma Beddoes (ENG) Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v Sarah Kippax (ENG) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [9] Annie Au (HKG)
