18 October 2013
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
Semi-finals: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 14-12, 11-4, 11-6 (38m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (86m)
Top seeds Nicol David and Laura Massaro will contest the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship final at Drexel University in Philadelphia after coming through contrasting semi-finals of the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinum event, which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
Second seed Massaro, the world No2 from England, reached her second US Open final in three years – but needed five games and almost one and a half hours to get past surprise opponent Low Wee Wern, the No6 seed from Malaysia who ousted last year’s Egyptian runner-up Raneem El Weleily in the previous round.
Massaro (pictured, right, with Low) recovered from 1-4 to take the first game 11-6. The Malaysian underdog was ahead for most of the second game before drawing level.
Again the next two games were shared, 29-year-old Massaro reclaiming the lead after the third and her 23-year-old seven-ranked opponent coming back from 1-4 down to take the fourth.
The Englishwoman took the lead in the decider, 3-1 then 6-4, but a determined Low brought it back to seven-all.
Massaro again took the lead at 8-7 before appealing a let which was over-ruled into a stroke for 9-7. A winning boast and a crosscourt dropshot gave Massaro the 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 victory after 86 minutes.
“I started well, it’s just a pity I couldn’t carry on like that for the whole match,” said Lancashire lass Massaro. “But she played well, she’s like a human sponge, she just keeps soaking everything up and you end up just having to go for something.
“It’s great to be back in the final in a big event like this. It was a long break over the summer so it feels good to be back playing these events again.”
It took less than half the time for favourite Nicol David to earn her place in the final for the second year in a row.
The world number one faced Joelle King, the No5 seed from New Zealand. Playing with her usual authority, David (pictured right, with King) led 8-2 in the opening game. But the Kiwi world No5 mounted an impressive comeback, drawing level at eight-all before moving ahead to game ball at 10-9.
The world number one held firm though, taking the game 14-12 – and soon after wrapping up the match 14-12, 11-4, 11-6 in 38 minutes to move one step closer to becoming the first player for more than 20 years to successfully defend the US Open title.
“I started well but Joelle came back strong at the end of the first,” said David. “I told myself I couldn’t let her get that one, so I dug in, then managed to push through in the next two games.
“It’s good to be back in the final. I’ll just rest up, focus on what I need to do and go out and give it all.”
David is celebrating the 88th WSA Tour final of her career, while Massaro is marking her 25th.
Event website: www.usopensquash.com
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
17 October 2013
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
Quarter-finals (lower half of draw): [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 (66m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (55m)
In her first ever victory over the world No3 from Egypt, Low Wee Wern upset 2012 runner-up Raneem El Weleily in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship at Drexel University in Philadelphia to ensure double Malaysian interest in the semi-finals for the first time in the event’s history.
The sixth seed from Penang, who has never before progressed beyond the first round, will meet second seed Laura Massaro in the semi-finals – joining defending champion and fellow Penangite Nicol David in the penultimate round.
Low came through a five-game thriller to progress to the last four of the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinumevent which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
The Malaysian (pictured right with El Weleily) twice stemmed leads by third seed El Weleily before clinching her breakthrough 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 win in 66 minutes.
El Weleily pulled away from seven-all in the first to take the opening game. After 23-year-old Low levelled, it was the Egyptian who moved on from seven-all in the third to reclaim the lead.
The 24-year-old from Cairo looked on course for a second successive place in the semis as she led 7-4 in the fourth – but Low hung in to level at eight-all before two strokes took the match into a decider.
El Weleily’s error count suddenly increased dramatically as five tins gave the Malaysian underdog a 6-1 advantage. The Egyptian worked her way back, however, and edged ahead at 8-7.
But a successful appeal against a let turned into a stroke to give Low a 9-8 lead – then two more errors took the Malaysian into the semis.
“I feel like going back on for another game, the rallies were so hard it doesn’t feel like it’s all over,” said the jubilant winner. “It’s definitely one of my best wins, but there was no pressure on me going into the match, so I just had to stick in and that seemed to work in my favour today.”
World No2 Laura Massaro was up against surprise opponent Kasey Brown, and was eager to get revenge for the ninth-seeded Australian’s upset over her England team-mate Jenny Duncalf in the previous round.
Brown started strongly, building up leads 5-2 and 7-3. But Massaro (pictured right with Brown) fought back to level at eight-all and moved on to game-ball.
But the England number one from Preston lost out on a video review and Brown seized the chance to take the opening game.
Massaro came out strongly in the second – and ultimately controlled the next three games.
From 6-2 in the second and 7-3 up in the third, the 29-year-old soon established a 2/1 lead before closing out the match 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 after 55 minutes.
“We hadn’t played for a couple of years, so I had to get used to how Kasey plays, and she’s playing well at the moment,” said Massaro, the 2011 champion.
“She’s very strong down the middle so I had to adjust my game to counter that and I’m happy with how I played the last three games.”
Semi-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Joelle King (NZL) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
Event website: www.usopensquash.com
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
18 October 2013
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
Semi-finals: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 14-12, 11-4, 11-6 (38m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (86m)
Top seeds Nicol David and Laura Massaro will contest the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship final at Drexel University in Philadelphia after coming through contrasting semi-finals of the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinum event, which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
Second seed Massaro, the world No2 from England, reached her second US Open final in three years – but needed five games and almost one and a half hours to get past surprise opponent Low Wee Wern, the No6 seed from Malaysia who ousted last year’s Egyptian runner-up Raneem El Weleily in the previous round.
Massaro (pictured, right, with Low) recovered from 1-4 to take the first game 11-6. The Malaysian underdog was ahead for most of the second game before drawing level.
Again the next two games were shared, 29-year-old Massaro reclaiming the lead after the third and her 23-year-old seven-ranked opponent coming back from 1-4 down to take the fourth.
The Englishwoman took the lead in the decider, 3-1 then 6-4, but a determined Low brought it back to seven-all.
Massaro again took the lead at 8-7 before appealing a let which was over-ruled into a stroke for 9-7. A winning boast and a crosscourt dropshot gave Massaro the 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 victory after 86 minutes.
“I started well, it’s just a pity I couldn’t carry on like that for the whole match,” said Lancashire lass Massaro. “But she played well, she’s like a human sponge, she just keeps soaking everything up and you end up just having to go for something.
“It’s great to be back in the final in a big event like this. It was a long break over the summer so it feels good to be back playing these events again.”
It took less than half the time for favourite Nicol David to earn her place in the final for the second year in a row.
The world number one faced Joelle King, the No5 seed from New Zealand. Playing with her usual authority, David (pictured right, with King) led 8-2 in the opening game. But the Kiwi world No5 mounted an impressive comeback, drawing level at eight-all before moving ahead to game ball at 10-9.
The world number one held firm though, taking the game 14-12 – and soon after wrapping up the match 14-12, 11-4, 11-6 in 38 minutes to move one step closer to becoming the first player for more than 20 years to successfully defend the US Open title.
“I started well but Joelle came back strong at the end of the first,” said David. “I told myself I couldn’t let her get that one, so I dug in, then managed to push through in the next two games.
“It’s good to be back in the final. I’ll just rest up, focus on what I need to do and go out and give it all.”
David is celebrating the 88th WSA Tour final of her career, while Massaro is marking her 25th.
Event website: www.usopensquash.com
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
17 October 2013
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
Quarter-finals (lower half of draw): [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 (66m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (55m)
In her first ever victory over the world No3 from Egypt, Low Wee Wern upset 2012 runner-up Raneem El Weleily in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship at Drexel University in Philadelphia to ensure double Malaysian interest in the semi-finals for the first time in the event’s history.
The sixth seed from Penang, who has never before progressed beyond the first round, will meet second seed Laura Massaro in the semi-finals – joining defending champion and fellow Penangite Nicol David in the penultimate round.
Low came through a five-game thriller to progress to the last four of the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinumevent which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
The Malaysian (pictured right with El Weleily) twice stemmed leads by third seed El Weleily before clinching her breakthrough 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 win in 66 minutes.
El Weleily pulled away from seven-all in the first to take the opening game. After 23-year-old Low levelled, it was the Egyptian who moved on from seven-all in the third to reclaim the lead.
The 24-year-old from Cairo looked on course for a second successive place in the semis as she led 7-4 in the fourth – but Low hung in to level at eight-all before two strokes took the match into a decider.
El Weleily’s error count suddenly increased dramatically as five tins gave the Malaysian underdog a 6-1 advantage. The Egyptian worked her way back, however, and edged ahead at 8-7.
But a successful appeal against a let turned into a stroke to give Low a 9-8 lead – then two more errors took the Malaysian into the semis.
“I feel like going back on for another game, the rallies were so hard it doesn’t feel like it’s all over,” said the jubilant winner. “It’s definitely one of my best wins, but there was no pressure on me going into the match, so I just had to stick in and that seemed to work in my favour today.”
World No2 Laura Massaro was up against surprise opponent Kasey Brown, and was eager to get revenge for the ninth-seeded Australian’s upset over her England team-mate Jenny Duncalf in the previous round.
Brown started strongly, building up leads 5-2 and 7-3. But Massaro (pictured right with Brown) fought back to level at eight-all and moved on to game-ball.
But the England number one from Preston lost out on a video review and Brown seized the chance to take the opening game.
Massaro came out strongly in the second – and ultimately controlled the next three games.
From 6-2 in the second and 7-3 up in the third, the 29-year-old soon established a 2/1 lead before closing out the match 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 after 55 minutes.
“We hadn’t played for a couple of years, so I had to get used to how Kasey plays, and she’s playing well at the moment,” said Massaro, the 2011 champion.
“She’s very strong down the middle so I had to adjust my game to counter that and I’m happy with how I played the last three games.”
Semi-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Joelle King (NZL) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
Event website: www.usopensquash.com
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
Quarter-finals (top half of draw): [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (34m) [5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 12-10, 11-2, 11-3 (37m)
The defending champion Nicol David the world number one from Malaysia defeated Irish rival Madeline Perry 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 in 34 minutes.
“I knew I had to be on from the start,” said David (pictured right in action with Perry), bidding to become the first player for more
than 20 years to successfully defend the title. “Madeline is so strong from the middle and she had me on the run a lot of times so I had to work hard to stay in front.”
Perry, the world No.9 who went into the match with only one win over David in 22 meetings, was not unhappy with her performance: “I thought I played pretty well there, but it’s pretty warm on there and she was getting everything back.
“I thought I’d won some of the rallies three times over, but when she’s playing like that there’s not a lot you can do!” So a great effort from Madeline but playing such a tough player she did all she could do. Reaching the last 8 will also help her world ranking points.
New Zealand’s Joelle King earned herself a surprise second successive semi-final appearance in the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship after pulling off a notable upset over England’s No4 seed Alison Waters in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinum event which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
Londoner Waters, ranked four in the world, went into the match 3/1 ahead in previous Tour meetings – with a straight games win over the world No5 from Cambridge in their most recent clash in the KL Openin March.
King (pictured left, in US Open action with Waters) dominated the next two games, dropping just five points as she stormed to a 12-10, 11-2, 11-3 victory in 37 minutes.
“Quite often when you sneak a game, like I did the first, you can get on a roll like I did tonight,” said the 25-year-old New Zealand champion.
“Alison probably wasn’t at her best but I’m pleased with how I played and really happy to be in the semi-finals again. It’s been a long break so it’s good to be back plying tournaments again, and this is such a great one to do well in.”
Waters duly took a 6-2 lead in the opening game – but King worked her way back, taking five points in a row from 5-8 down to reach game ball as a let given to Waters was turned into a no let on video review.
Waters saved those game balls, but a stroke later put the Kiwi ahead.
“Fantastic display from David to win the Nordic Junior Open U19. He played impeccable almost faultless squash leaving the young Israeli star Daniel Poleshchuk no.1 seed without any idea of how to respond. Daniel is a super squash player with all the crowd pleasing shots. David’s strategy was simple, to give him no opportunity to attack, anytime Daniel had a go David was alert and dealt with it sending the ball back right down the wall. So tight that on a number of occasions even a player of Daniel’s undoubted quality could even not return the ball – scraping the plaster and fresh air off the wall. David played this final perfectly and Daniel needs to reflect and learn that there are at least two ways to play squash. David has stepped up to U19 squash and it looks like he will be the dominant player while he is eligible, we should be 
very proud of his and his dad, Eoin’s achievements ” written by Henry Gillanders
There were 13 other Irish players who travelled to the Nordic Junior open with many achieving impressive top 10 finishes. Ellie McVeigh narrowly missed the U13’s final with a close 3-2 defeat against Ukrainian Europe no 1 finishing 3rd
Dylan and Conor Moran both finished 3rd in their respective boys U11 and U13 events
Michael Craig finished 5th in the U19’s displaying some of his usual mesmeric squash.
Luke Logan finished a very respectful 5th in U15 boys event.
Well Done to all!!
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Quarter-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) v [5] Joelle King (NZL) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [9] Kasey Brown (AUS)
Madeline Perry, the No8 seed,
who recovered from a game down to beat Dane Line Hansen 6-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8 in 41 minutes.
“She started well, her length was better than mine and I just couldn’t get control of any rallies,” said Perry, the 36-year-old world No9. “But I felt much better from the start of the second.
“I’ve been struggling with a knee injury for the last couple of months, so it’s just nice to be playing again. I’m looking forward to the quarter-finals and having another rest day can’t hurt!”
Madeline now meets Nicol David, world No. 1 who is bidding to become the first player to defend the title for over 20 years. A tough ask for Madeline but one she will not shirk from! Good Luck Madeline!
In the 1st round Aisling Blake went out to Alison Walters, England’s No4 seed. Alison was back at her best winning 11-7, 11-6, 11-3. “Aisling was playing 
well and finding her length from the start,” admitted the world No4 from London (pictured right with Blake). “It took me a while to find my range. It’s always a bit of an unknown quantity in your opening match, but I’m glad to get through in three and looking forward to the rest of the tournament now.”
Also in the 1st round Eighth seed Madeline Perry was given a scare by Tesni Evans, a 20-year-old Welsh qualifier making her maiden appearance in the event. Experienced Irish number one Perry led 2/0, but plucky Evans fought back to draw level.
The 36-year-old world No9 dug deep, however, to regain the advantage and close out the match 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5 after 67 minutes.
Other news from the 2nd round –
England’s Alison Waters admitted that it was a ‘patchy’ performance that saw the fourth seed survive her second round encounter with Australia’s Donna Urquhart in the Women’s Delaware Investments U.S. Open Championship, the Women’s Squash Association World Series Platinum event which – for the first time ever – is providing equal prize money to the men’s event.
Waters, the world No4, went into the match at Drexel University in Philadelphia boasting a 4/1 career head-to-head record over the left-hander from New South Wales, ranked 21 places lower.
But the Londoner squandered an 8-3 lead in the opening game to allow Urquhart to win the next eight points in a row to take an unlikely one game lead. Waters upped her game to take the next two to go 2/1 up – but Urquhart came out firing in the fourth to level the match. in the 5th, the Australian underdog drew level at seven-all. Two careless tins from the Englishwoman put Urquhart within two points of the match – but three crisp winners later gave Waters match-ball at 10-9.
A stroke saw Urquhart draw level at 10-all – but Waters converted her next match-ball to finally secure her 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 win after 58 minutes.
“Donna played well, but I was pretty patchy throughout,” admitted Waters. “I’m just glad to have got through!”
Waters now faces fifth seed Joelle King, the world No5 from New Zealand who defeated England’s Sarah Kippax 11-9, 11-4, 11-7.
“I had a close match against Nouran (Gohar) in the first round, and that was probably just the kick up the bum I needed,” admitted 25-year-old King afterwards. “I’m glad I was able to come out and play much better today, even if I did make a few errors at the start.”
Favourite Nicol David maintained her ‘clean sheet’ in the event by beating Camille Serme 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 in a repeat of her victory over the fast-improving French number one in last week’s Carol Weymuller Openfinal in New York.
“I was really pumped up for this, ready to give my best,” said the world number one from Malaysia (pictured above in action with Serme) after extending her career head-to-head record over world No10 Serme to 10-0.
“We played last week and she was playing really well, so I knew she would be fired up for it. I managed to settle and get into my game but it wasn’t easy, she played well again.”
RESULTS: Women’s Delaware Investments US Open, Philadelphia, USA
2nd round (top half of draw): [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [10] Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (36m) [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [15] Line Hansen (DEN) 6-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8 (41m) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [12] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 (58m) [5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [13] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (31m)
2nd round (lower half of draw): [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [16] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 2-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (40m) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (50m) [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (41m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [14] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 6-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-7 (44m)
Event website: www.usopensquash.com
The International German Masters 2013 was held in Berlin on 5th and 6th Oct at the Airport Squash and Fitness Club. Among the entries from fourteen countries were three Irish players, Brian Mahon, Terry Norman, and Myron Evans.
eventually lost 3-1 to Christian Grobler.
Derek Ryan and Brian Byrne
In the Men’s A Final, Derek Ryan showed once again that he is still the one to beat when he put in an impressive performance to beat Brian Byrne 3-1 in the final at Silversprings. Despite Byrne’s fabulous retrieving of seemingly ungettable balls, it was the Dubliner who dictated the rallies for the greater part of the match. In a step-up from their semi-final performances neither player made many errors and in the end it came down to the range and class of Ryans array of squash shots. The trade-mark drops were always ‘clung to the wall’ and almost all ‘lengths’ really were played to length. Added to his lob and unpredictable cross-court shots on this occasion at least he proved too much of a handful for his opponent.
Derek Ryan (Fitzwilliam) beat Brian Byrne (Claremorris)
3-1 (13/11;5/11;11/8;11/9)
Eleanor Lapthorn and Ciara Moloney
In the Ladies A Final Eleanor Lapthorne made a welcome return to this competition and ran out a 3-0 winner against an under-par Ciara Moloney who never got her A game going. Lapthorne was the quicker player to settle into the match and overall managed to do better with lengths, drops and the occasional boast. Although Moloney served well, especially to the back-hand, she rarely pushed home the advantage of a loose return. Overall the Cork player hit the firmed strikes and appeared to adapt better to the warm court conditions. Characteristically Lapthorne was quite happy to go for the winner as soon as it appeared ‘on’. Moloney can add this runner-up spot to her similar finish at the Curragh Open recently so will not be too disappointed with her weekend.
Click on links below to view full draw and results on the tournament software site.
| Competition | Winner | Runner-up | ||
| Ladies A | Eleanor Lapthorne (Highfield) | Ciara Moloney (Carlow L.T.C.) | ||
| Men’s A | Derek Ryan (Fitzwilliam) | Brian Byrne (Claremorris) | ||
| Men’s A Plate | Neal Pollock (Ballyearl) | Anthony Lyons (Dunhill) | ||
| Men’s B | Martin McDonnell (Highfield) | Mark Gilliland (Ballyearl) | ||
| Men’s C | Geoff Wales (Silversprings) | Ian McLean (Sunday’s Well | ||
| Men’s C Plate | Paul O’Mahony (Highfield) | Maciej Truchan (Gleneagle) | ||
| Men’s D | James Doherty | Noel Walsh (Freshford) | ||
| Men’s C Plate | Brendan Lawton (Highfield) | Mark Power (H’field and U.C.C. | ||
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4 October 2013RESULTS: Carol Weymuller Open, New York, USA
1st round: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 6-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [Q] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 [5] Joelle King (NZL) bt Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-9 [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 13-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3 [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7
Second seed Laura Massaro successfully began her defence of the title with an 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 win over our own Aisling Blake.
“It was tough going on late, it just felt like a really long day,” said Massaro, the world No2 from Preston who won the trophy last year for the first time after her second appearance in the final. “I’m obviously glad to come through in three. I thought Aisling was feeling the effects of her five setter yesterday. I was catching her out with a few boasts and I just have to be careful with that tomorrow.”
Massaro now faces Malaysia’s No6 seed Low Wee Wern who defeated Guyana qualifier Nicolette Fernandes 13-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3.
A tough ask for Aisling vs. the world number 2 especially after her tough 5 setter the day before but hopefully it may will earn her enough points to get inside the top 20 world rankings.
Next up, the big one – US Open in Philly from 9th Oct – 17th.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE IRISH PLAYERS!!
In the other matches, Indian squash star Dipika Pallikal played one of the best games of her life in the opening round of the Carol Weymuller Open in New York when she recovered from two games down – and saved a match-ball in the third – to upset Australia’s No8 seed Kasey Brown and reach the quarter-finals of the Women’s Squash Association Gold 50 event celebrating its 40th anniversary at The Heights Casino in Brooklyn.
“It was the longest and most exciting match of the evening and the only five setter,” said Heights Casino Director of Squash Linda Elriani. “Kasey and Dipika were 4-1 in their head to heads in Kasey’s favour.”
Brown, the US-based world No11, started strongly and managed to contain underdog Pallikal’s shot selection – winning the first two games. In the third, Brown led 9-7 before reaching match-ball at 10-9 – but was unable to convert it as Pallikal, ranked six places lower, dug in to take the game 13-11.
Pallikal took the fourth to set up a decider. “The points were pretty much even all the way through the fifth until 9-9 and Kasey got a no let in the front backhand corner to take Dipika to 10-9 match ball,” Elriani continued. “Dipika took her chance on the first attempt and went through to take the match 3/2.”
A thrilled Pallikal said after her 6-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 victory: “I’m really, really, pleased to get through. When my mum told me I was in the main draw, I didn’t believe her as I was thinking that I was going to have to qualify.
“So I wanted to take advantage of being in the main draw. I came all the way to the USA for one tournament as I am playing in Macau, China, in a week’s time,” added the 22-year-old from Chennai.
“I had 3 months off tournaments this summer so I trained with Sarah Fitz-Gerald in Australia, trained with Ritwik (Bhattacharya) in Bombay and in Chennai with my fitness trainer Basu – and I think it made the difference. I’m really thankful to Sarah as she has put a lot of effort in for me and she’ll be really pleased that I won today!”
A disappointed Brown added: “I was 2/0 and had match ball in the third! I knew it was going to be tough and I think I went a little defensive in the third and fourth and in the end she was able to pull it out. She played well.”
Pallikal will go on to meet top seed Nicol David, the world number one form Malaysia who won the title in 2005. The 30-year-old from Penang – eager to make up for a shock quarter-final exit last year – despatched Australia’s Donna Urquhart 11-8, 11-5, 11-4.
Urquhart, returning to full strength after a foot injury, commented: “I feel a little bit disappointed with the way I played. I’m just happy to be back playing again. I was enjoying being on court and I wish I could have been on court longer. I feel keen and I feel like I’m starting over and working on getting back to where I was before I was injured.”
David, looking for a second successive WSA title after winning the Malaysian Open last month, was delighted to have survived the first hurdle: “It’s nice to have a good win in the first round. The first game with Donna she was volleying and reading the game well and I made a few errors. I think I just started to tighten up better at the end of the first and kept solid in the second and third.”
There was another significant upset later when France’s unseeded Camille Serme ousted fourth-seeded English opponent Alison Waters 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-9 – a repeat of last month’s shock straight games Malaysian Open win by Serme over the world No4 from London.
“I’m very happy obviously!” said Serme, the world No10 from Creteil. “Twice I’ve beaten her in three weeks! First in KL and now here!
“I think that she played better here than in KL. The rallies were long and we were both a bit up and down in this match, but it was a good battle. Now I need to go on the bike and then stretch.”
A disconsolate Waters said: “It was close in the first and second. Camille played well. She was hitting her areas well and I wasn’t really in front much. I’m pretty disappointed.”
There were also impressive wins by former champions Raneem El Weleily and Jenny Duncalf. Third seed El Weleily, the 2011 champion, leads Egyptian interest in the quarter-finals after an 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 win over Danish qualifier Line Hansen.
Duncalf, the only two-time winner in the field, beat English compatriot Victoria Lust 11-5, 11-5, 11-4.
“Lusty looked good yesterday in her quali match so I wasn’t taking her lightly,” said 2009 and 2010 champion Duncalf. “Canada seems to be agreeing with her. I was happy I managed to control the ball in the hot conditions.
“I’m happy to be back in Brooklyn. It feels like home!”
Quarter-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v Dipika Pallikal (IND) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [5] Joelle King (NZL) Camille Serme (FRA) v [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
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