El Sherbini sets up World clash in the Women’s Tub O’Towels

Pepper Pike, Ohio, USA, Feb 01, 2014: Egypt’s world junior champion Nour El Sherbini will face Malaysia’s senior world champion Nicol David in the opening round of the Women’s Tub O’Towels Cleveland Classic after prevailing in the qualifiers of the Women’s Squash Association Gold 50 event at Cleveland Racquet Club in Pepper Pike, Ohio, USA.

El Sherbini, the 18-year-old world No16 from Alexandria beat England’s Emma Beddoes 12-10, 15-13, 11-3. The Egyptian teenager (featured image with Beddoes) saved two game balls in the first game before being extended in the second, the longest game of the day, by the world No25 from Leeds.

El Sherbini will now face event favourite Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia, in the pair’s first meeting since contesting the 2012 British Open final in London.

Hong Kong’s Annie Au beat former US champion Latasha Khan to deny home interest in the main draw of the event celebrating its fourth successive year at Cleveland Racquet Club. Veteran Khan, the 41-year-old world No32 from Seattle, forced a tie-break in the second game, but left-hander Au (pictured below with Khan) ultimately proved too strong, winning 11-4, 12-10, 11-3.

National champion Nour El Tayeb doubled the Egyptian success in the qualifiers after upsetting Australia’s former world champion and world No1 Rachael Grinham 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.

England’s Sarah Kippax also pulled off a notable upset when she beat Denmark’s Line Hansen, ranked five places higher. The Dane led 6-1 in the fourth game, but Kippax came back to close out the match 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 in 65 minutes. Kippax will face third seed Raneem El Welily, the defending champion from Egypt.

Updated 1st round draw:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

[5] Camille Serme (FRA) v [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG)

[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Kasey Brown (AUS)

[6] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

[8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)

[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Dipika Pallikal (IND)

[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [Q] Annie Au (HKG)

[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Madeline Perry (IRL)

RESULTS: Women’s Tub O’Towels Cleveland Classic, Pepper Pike, Ohio, USA

Qualifying finals:

Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5

Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (65m)

Annie Au (HKG) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-4, 12-10, 11-3

Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Emma Beddoes (ENG) 12-10, 15-13, 11-3. —- WSF