Egyptian Teenagers Triumph In Monte Carlo by Howard Harding November 5, 2014
- Egyptian teenagers Habiba Mohamed Ahmed and Mariam Metwally defied
the seedings in the Women's Monte Carlo Classic by claiming unexpected
places in the quarter-finals of the WSA Silver 25 event in its 19th
year at Stade Louis II in Monaco.
Ahmed, at 15, the youngest player in the draw, despatched England's
experienced No5 seed Sarah Kippax - a semi-finalist in 2011 - 11-9,
11-7, 11-7 in 33 minutes.
The youngster from Alexandria (pictured above with Kippax), who is
making her debut in the event after celebrating a career-high world
No24 ranking this month, now takes on top seed Camille Serme.
The world No6 from Creteil in France successfully began the defence of
her title by beating Canada's Samantha Cornett 11-3, 11-9, 11-8.
Metwally, a 17-year-old qualifier also from Alexandria, also removed a
former event semi-finalist when she defeated Denmark's seventh seed
Line Hansen 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.
Currently boasting a career-best world ranking of 52 and also a Monte
Carlo Classic debutante, Metwally (pictured above with Hansen) now
lines up against fellow Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy.
The 29-year-old fourth seed from Cairo - who made her debut in the 2001
championship and clinched the title in 2010 - brushed aside New Zealand
qualifier Amanda Landers-Murphy 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 in just 18 minutes.
WSA veteran Aisling Blake also added her name to the list of surprise
quartet-finalists when she battled to an hour-long upset over Guyana's
No6 seed Nicolette Fernandes, winning 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-2, 11-5.
The 33-year-old former world No21 from Sligo (pictured above, left,
with Fernandes) joins compatriot Madeline Perry in the last eight when
she takes on second seed Dipika Pallikal - the Indian star who ousted
top-ranked Welsh opponent Tesni Evans 11-2, 11-6, 13-11.
