Saffery & Evans Produce Historic Welsh Double In Hull, Canada's Cornett Qualifies by Howard Harding May 12, 2014
- There will be double Welsh interest in the main draw of the Women's
British Open Squash Championship for the first time this millennium
after Deon Saffery and Tesni Evans both survived today's qualifying
finals of the 2014 Allam-sponsored event at the University of Hull
Sports and Fitness Centre in Hull.
Deon Saffery produced
the day's biggest upset, fighting back from two games down to beat
Ireland's world No31 Aisling Blake 8-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 in 51
minutes.
Welsh champion
Saffery, ranked 52 in the world and the lowest-ranked player to make
the main draw, is rewarded with a first round meeting with Omneya Abdel
Kawy, the No11 seed from Egypt.
21-year-old Tesni
Evans will also be celebrating her maiden appearance in the historic
championship's main draw after defeating 30-year-old New Zealander
Kylie Lindsay 11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-4.
Evans, ranked 32 in the world, will line up against Indian number one Dipika Pallikal, the world No10.
A pair of Egyptians
also prevailed in the qualifiers: 16-year-old Nouran Ahmed Gohar was
successful at her first attempt, beating Japan's 24-year-old Misaki
Kobayashi 11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6 - while Heba El Torky earned her
second appearance in the first round after surviving the day's longest
battle.
The 23-year-old from
Alexandria fought for 95 minutes to overcome Mexico's former world No11
Samantha Teran 11-8, 12-14, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11. El Torky will now line
up against favourite Nicol David, the world No1 from Malaysia bidding
to win the title for a fifth time.
There were additional
qualifying wins by Australian Donna Urquhart, Canadian Samantha
Cornett, Malaysian Delia Arnold and Siyoli Waters of South Africa.
RESULTS: Women's Allam British Open, Hull, England
Updated 1st round draw: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Line Hansen (DEN) [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [Q] Deon Saffery (WAL) [6] Camille Serme (FRA) v Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [5] Alison Waters (ENG) v [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) [12] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) [15] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Joshana Chinappa (IND) [4] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [Q] Nouran Ahmed Gohar (EGY) [14] Kasey Brown (AUS) v [WC] Emily Whitlock (ENG) [13] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Emma Beddoes (ENG) [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) [10] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Sarah Kippax (ENG) [9] Annie Au (HKG) v [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)
