Hong Kong’s Au Stuns Serme As Seeds Falter In San Francisco from PSA Media
photos PSA
September 29, 2018
- A display of impressive resolve and patience saw Hong Kong’s Annie
Au, the World No.11, twice come from behind to score a surprise defeat
of World No.5 Camille Serme of France in the quarter-finals of the 2018
Oracle NetSuite Open on a day that also saw World No.4 Joelle King exit
the PSA World Tour event taking place in San Francisco, USA.
The diminutive 29-year-old Au, a Gold Medal winner at the Asian Games
this summer, hadn’t beaten Serme since 2011 but continued to display
the type of relaxed and composed squash that has propelled her to
victories over the likes of World No.1 Nour ElSherbini during the past
month as she countered Serme’s physicality with intelligent attacking
play and pace variation.
After coming from behind in the fourth game to force the match into a
decider, Au profited mid-way through the fifth when the pressure and
expectation of winning looked to play on Serme’s mind, leading to a
series of error’s from the racket of the Frenchwoman that gifted Au the
advantage.
“I’m feeling really happy - its been long time since I beat her,” said
Au. “She’s been playing very well over the last few years so I’m very
happy with my performance today.
“We had the Asian Games this summer, which is a very important event
for Hong Kong, and I think that has helped me start the season in good
form. I knew today I had to patient and that there would be a lot of
long rallies. But I tried to relax and just go for my shots when there
was an opening.
“There was no pressure on me and I could see she was tense so I tried
to make the most of it. I’m very excited now to have the chance to play
on the glass court here. It’s an amazing location so I’m looking
forward to it”
Au will go up against 2017 tournament champion Sarah-Jane Perry in the
semi-finals - in a match that will be played in an all-glass court set
up in the shadow of the San Francisco Ferry Building - after the
Englishwoman came from a game down to overthrow second seeded Joelle
King and keep the defence of her title - the biggest of her career to
date - alive.
New Zealand’s World No.4 King was on fire during the opener, leaving
Perry searching for a way to counter the momentum, and looked to be en
route to doubling her lead before Perry mounted a huge comeback late in
the second game, saving multiple game balls to overturn the momentum to
level the scores.
As the third game progressed King’s movement began to falter and Perry
made the most of the opportunity to power through and complete a 3-1
win.
“I was being very predictable in the first game,” said Perry.
“I’ve never beaten her before but I tried to put that out of my mind
before the match. I really enjoy playing here in San Francisco. I’ve
done amazingly well here and the title last year was the biggest of my
career.
“I haven’t looked past this match in the draw, it was a huge match
against Joelle. I’d love to do really well again but it’s one match at
a time for now and I’m excited for another semi-final now.”
The second semi-final will see current World Champion Raneem El Welily,
who dispatched England’s Alison Waters in straight-games, take on 2013
World Champion Laura Massaro after the World No.7 prevailed in a highly
competitive four-game match with eight-time World Champion Nicol David
in what was the duo’s 33rd meeting on the PSA World Tour.
Malaysian David enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0 victory when the pair last
met at the China Open earlier this month but Massaro gained revenge
courtesy of a feisty display that saw her go from one-game down to see
out a 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 win.
“The second game in particular was huge today,” said Massaro. “The
first three games were all very tight and could have gone either way
because the rallies were long and hard and well contested.
“She played so well in China - especially in comparison to how she
played last season - and I underestimated her in that match I think.
Today I was fully prepared for the physicality she would bring to the
match and I’m really pleased with how I stayed focused and came through
it.”
In the men’s draw defending champion and World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy
produced a masterclass to beat World No.6 Miguel Angel Rodriguez of
Colombia, the man he lost to in the final of the British Open in May,
and underline his position as the man to beat this week.
ElShorbagy began his defence with a comfortable defeat of Frenchman
Gregoire Marche yesterday and he continued to go from
strength-to-strength against the dynamic and dangerous Rodriguez,
playing with guile, patience and deadly attacking intent when necessary
to come away with an 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 victory.
“Miguel obviously beat me in the final of British Open and completely
deserved it,” said ElShorbagy. “I know just how hard he works and his
success as recovering from a drop in form to get back to number six in
the world shows his strength of character.
“As much as I was disappointed to lose the British, it was great for
the sport to have a South American win the event, but today I was happy
that it was me who won our first battle of the season
“Every-time you go on court the conditions are different. I’ve got the
experience to know that and I’m really happy to be back on court and
playing here in San Francisco and I’m looking forward to the
semi-finals now.”
ElShorbagy will go up against compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad in the last
four after he prevailed in a difficult encounter with World No.4 Tarek
Momen.
Gawad, the 2016 World Champion, had no answer to Momen’s attacking
weapons in the first game but he switched the match on its head in the
second before storming home an 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 13-11 winner.
