Sobhy Wins Australian Open First Round Match, David Tested
from WSA Media
Evans- David photo courtesy WSA Media
August 15, 2012 - It was a good day for the youngsters in the first round of the Hi-Tec Australian Open, as Harvard Sophomore Amanda Sobhy and England's Emily Whitlock upset the seedings. Sobhy, the 2010 World Junior Champion made short work of 14th seed Joey Chan of Hong Kong. The 19 year old, currently ranked no.26, was at a ranking high of no.17 last year before College commitments have stopped her playing a full season on tour. Whitlock, the recent World Junior semi finalist, went the distance with Jaclyn Hawkes of New Zealand, twice coming from a game down to record her first top 20 win. Sobhy will now play second seed Jenny Duncalf while Whitlock will play third seed Laura Massaro in the last 16.
Elsewhere, World No 1 Nicol David didn't have it all her own way against 19 year old Tesni Evans of Wales. David won the opening game handily before Evans stormed back to take the second game. David closed it out 11-8 in 4th against an inspired opponent. “I was working hard the whole match to win that one,” David said later. “You can see what she can do with the ball, she’s a real talent. Every point counted, she didn’t give up any point easily. I just had to hang in there and stick to my game.”
On form Alison Waters took out no.15 seed Delia Arnold. On paper this is an upset but the former World No 3 has won her last 4 tournaments and is certainly the player to avoid.
Australians Kasey Brown, Rachel Grinham and Donna Urquhart all came through their matches in 3 games. Grinham and Urquhart now face each other for a place in the quarter finals, while Brown takes on 2009 Champion Kiwi Joelle King who needed four games to beat Czech qualifier Olga Ertlova. There was almost a fourth Australian player into the second round when Sarah Cardwell twice led no.16 seed Emma Beddoes before eventually succumbing to the athletic English girl in the fifth.
There were also comfortable wins for 2010 Champion Madeline Perry, 2008 Champion Annie Au, Low Wee Wern, Dipika Pallikal and Camille Serme.
First Round:
1-Nicol David (MAS) bt Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (40 mins)
10-Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (19 mins)
5-Annie Au (HKG) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (19 mins)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt 15-Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-8, 11-6, 11-3 (30 mins)
4-Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11-3, 11-9, 11-1 (21 mins)
16-Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 8-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3 (61 mins)
8-Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (28 mins)
9-Joelle King (NZL) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 11-7, 11-7, 3-11, 11-6 (40 mins)
12-Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (23 mins)
7-Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-8, 13-11, 11-9 (31 mins)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt 13-Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9 (53 mins)
3-Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-1, 11-5, 11-8 (25 mins)
11-Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (28 mins)
6-Camille Serme (FRA) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 11-4, 11-7 11-6 (20 mins)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt 14-Joey Chan (HKG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 (22 mins)
2-Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-7, 11-7, 13-11 (35 mins)
Second Round Matches:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) vs [10] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 17.15
[6] Annie Au (HGK) vs Alison Waters (ENG) 12.45
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) vs [10] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 12.00
[8] Kasey Brown (AUS) vs [9] Joelle King (NZL) 16.30
[12] Donna Urquhart (AUS) vs [7] Rachel Grinham 15.45
Emily Whitlock (ENG) vs [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 13.30
[11] Dipika Pallikal (IND) vs [6] Camille Serme (FRA) 14.15
Amanda Sobhy (USA) vs [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 15.00
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