Perry & Massaro Take Home Interest Into British Open Quarters by Howard Harding
photos squashpics.com
May 14, 2015
-Former champion Laura Massaro and 13th seed Sarah-Jane Perry have
ensured home interest in the women's quarter-finals of the Allam
British Open Squash Championships after four-game victories in today's
second round of the WSA World Series event at the Airco Arena in the
English city of Hull.
Avenging a shock defeat by left-hander Donna Urquhart only seven days
ago, world No.14 Perry beat the Australian qualifier 11-5, 11-7, 7-11,
11-6 in 40 minutes.
It was in last week's quarter-finals of the CourtCare Open in
Lancashire that favourite Perry made a surprise exit courtesy of
Urquhart, the former world No.13 making a return to competitive action
after foot surgery last year.
On the all-glass court in Hull, Birmingham-born Perry (pictured above,
right, with Urquhart) notched up the first two games comfortably before
Urquhart surged back in the third game and forced the England
international to find an extra gear.
"I thought I played pretty well," said the Kenilworth-based British
National champion who will play her first British Open quarter-final on
her 25th birthday. "It got a little bit edgy in the middle, a few
errors but managed to rein it in. She kept me fighting so I was pretty
pleased to win that last rally. I'm playing well, I hit the ball well.
I love that court.
"I was seeded to get to this round today, so anything else is a bonus
really, I'm really pleased to get through to tomorrow, and we'll see
firstly who I'm playing and then just go out there tomorrow, give it my
best shot. It's my birthday so I've got to enjoy myself."
In the first match of the evening session, third seed Laura Massaro
joined her England team-mate in the last eight after seeing off
Egyptian prospect Nouran Gohar in four games. The 17-year-old from
Cairo was making her second successive appearance in the championship -
but 31-year-old Massaro's experience ultimately proved to be the
decisive factor as the 2013 champion powered her way through to the
quarters after a solid 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-1 victory in 48 minutes.
"I think one of the strengths of my game is that I can play the big
points well - I would always back myself to win those - and I'm glad I
was able to show that tonight," said the Lancashire lass from Preston
who two years ago became the first English winner of the women's title
since 1991.
"But Nouran is definitely a talent for the future," added Massaro (pictured above, left, with Gohar), the world No.4.
"Becoming the first English winner of the title for 22 years two years
ago was very special for me. And the crowd almost carried me over the
finishing line in last year's final!"
Perry will now face top seed Nicol David for a place in the
semi-finals. The defending champion from Malaysia took one step closer
to a sixth title in 11 years when she beat England's Emma Beddoes 11-9,
9-11, 11-8, 11-5.
Massaro's opponent will be 10th seed Joelle King, the former world No.4
from New Zealand who is playing her first Tour event since rupturing
her Achilles last August. The 26-year-old has been in sparkling form in
Hull - securing her second successive straight games victory with a
28-minute 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 victory over England wild card Victoria Lust.
RESULTS: Allam British Open Squash Championships, Hull, England
Women's 2nd round (top half of draw):
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [14] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (53m)
[13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (40m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [16] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-1 (48m)
[10] Joelle King (NZL) bt [WC] Victoria Lust (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 (28m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [10] Joelle King (NZL)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [6] Camille Serme (FRA)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS)
