Favourite David Moves Into British Open Quarters by Howard Harding May 15, 2014
- Malaysia's top seed Nicol David moved a step closer towards a seventh
final appearance in eight years when she beat rising England star
Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games in today's second round of the Allam
British Open Squash Championship, the Women's Squash Association (WSA)
World Series Platinum event at the Sports Arena in Hull.
The formidable
30-year-old from Penang - who already boasts 73 WSA World Tour titles,
including four British Open crowns - is eager to make up for last
year's shock final defeat by English rival Laura Massaro.
"The British Open is
like playing in the World Championships, so I'm thrilled to be here
playing in it," said David (pictured above with Perry) after her 11-6,
13-11, 11-4 win in 40 minutes.
"It was a great match and I had to dig deep especially in the second game where I was behind so I'm pleased with the finish."
David now faces 11th
seed Omneya Abdel Kawy, the 28-year-old Egyptian with whom she has
enjoyed a 17-year rivalry since the pair contested the British Junior
U14 Open final in January 1997.
World No13 Kawy pulled
off a notable upset over sixth seed Camille Serme, beating the world
No5 from France for the first time in over three years 8-11, 9-11,
11-6, 11-9, 13-11 in 62 minutes.
There was home success
in an earlier second round clash when Londoner Alison Waters, the No5
seed, beat Welsh qualifier Tesni Evans 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.
Evans, the 21-year-old
world No32 from Rhyl, had claimed her maiden appearance in the event's
last 16 after a stunning upset over highly-rated Indian star Dipika
Pallikal, ranked 10 in the world.
"After that first
round win, I knew I couldn't take her lightly," said world No6 Waters,
the reigning and four-time British National champion (pictured above
with Evans).
"This is a very
special tournament - I remember going to see it when I was about ten. I
would really like to get my hands on the trophy.
"I've always done well in the Nationals - so it would be nice now to get this international title."
Waters will now face
fourth seed Joelle King for a place in the semi-finals. New Zealander
King took four games to see off unseeded Indian Joshana Chinappa 11-6,
11-7, 8-11, 11-1.
RESULTS: Women's Allam British Open, Hull, England
Quarter-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [4] Joelle King (NZL) v [5] Alison Waters (ENG) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)
