Former World No 1 Willstrop Falls in China Open Qualifier by Nathan Clarke September 2, 2015
- Former World No.1 James Willstrop, 2014 Stars On The Bund China Open
champion, has crashed out of the 2015 edition of the PSA M100
tournament after falling to a 3-2 defeat against Hong Kong’s Leo Au in
the final round of qualification in Shanghai.
The 32-year-old, who has struggled to return to form since undergoing
surgery on a career-threatening hip injury following his 2014 triumph,
found himself competing in qualification for the first time in over a
decade after falling to World No.19 and his woes were furthered as Au
held his nerve to withstand a late comeback and book a place in the
main draw courtesy of a 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-5 win.
Au will now take on Simon Rösner when the main draw gets underway on
Thursday September 3 while Scotland’s Greg Lobban, the World No.44,
produced a second upset in qualifying to come through against Swiss
national champion Nicolas Mueller, the World No.27, in a thrilling
five-game encounter.
In the women’s PSA W50 tournament Malaysian Delia Arnold celebrated her
new career-high ranking of No.12 by overcoming Welsh player Tesni Evans
to move into the main draw alongside compatriot Nicol David - who will
be competing in her first tournament since losing the World No.1
ranking to Egypt’s Raneem El Welily.
Arnold came from a game down to see off Evans in what is the first
women’s event to be played on the lower 17” tin and she will line up
against American Amanda Sobhy in tomorrow’s first round.
David faces French qualifier Coline Aumard while World No.1 El Welily
begins her 2015/16 season against fellow Egyptian Heba El Torky.
PSA M100 Results - Qualifying Finals:
Leo Au (HKG) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 3-2: 11-5, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-5 (67m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Nicolas Müller (SUI) 3-2: 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (80m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (33m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
PSA M100 - First Round Draw:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Max Lee (HKG)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) v [6] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[8] Borja Golan (ESP) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
[WC] Ivan Yuen (MAS) v [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[3] Simon Rösner (GER) v [Q] Leo Au (HKG)
[Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) v [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[5] Peter Barker (ENG) v [Q] Tom Richards (ENG)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
PSA W50 - First Round Draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [6] Joelle King (NZL)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [3] Camille Serme (FRA)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS)
[WC] Teh Min Jie (MAS) v [8] Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[5] Annie Au (HKG) v Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
