Six Qualifiers to make Hong Kong Open debuts

Hong Kong, Dec 2, 2013: All but two of the players who survived today’s qualifying finals of the Women’s Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open will be making their debuts in the WSA World Series Gold squash event at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

Teenagers Mariam Ibrahim Metwally, Yathreb Adel and Salma Hany Ibrahim – all just 17 – doubled the Egyptian representation in the main draw after impressive qualifying finals performances. Metwally, the world No70, became the lowest-ranked player in the draw when she defeated US veteran Latasha Khan, the 40-year-old from Seattle ranked more than 40 places higher, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 in just 26 minutes.

Adel, the world No36 from Cairo, defeated France’s Laura Pomportes 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, while Alexandria-based Ibrahim denied further Malaysian interest in the main draw when she beat Delia Arnold (both pictured in featured) 11-5, 2-11, 11-6, 11-7.

Twin Hong Kong hopes Tong Tsz-Wing and Ho Ka Po bowed out at the final hurdle. England’s Emma Beddoes despatched the former 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 to book her sixth successive appearance in the first round, while 19-year-old Ho twice led Tesni Evans (pictured above, right, with Ho) before her higher-ranked Welsh opponent prevailed 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 in 65 minutes to make her event debut.

Canada’s Samantha Cornett also survived a five-game onslaught, fighting back from 2/1 down to beat Australian Melody Francis 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-3.

The 22-year-old from Ottawa, ranked 32 in the world, will make her Hong Kong Open debut against top seed Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia.

David, poised on 40 matches without defeat over the past ten years in Hong Kong, is bidding to win her ninth successive title.

RESULTS: Women’s Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong

Qualifying finals:

Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)

Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Ho Ka Po (HKG) 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 (65m)

Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-3 (43m)

Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt Laura Pomportes (FRA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (29m)

Coline Aumard (FRA) bt Olivia Blatchford (USA) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 (34m)

Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-5, 2-11, 11-6, 11-7 (43m)

Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt Deon Saffery (WAL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (27m)

Mariam Ibrahim Metwally (EGY) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (26m).

Updated 1st round draw:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN)

[9] Camille Serme (FRA) v Emily Whitlock (ENG)

[16] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)

[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)

[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN)

[10] Kasey Brown (AUS) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL)

[15] Line Hansen (DEN) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)

[7] Natalie Grinham (NED) v Joshana Chinappa (IND)

[8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [Q] Mariam Ibrahim Metwally (EGY)

[11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Siyoli Waters (RSA)

[14] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [WC] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG)

[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG)

[12] Annie Au (HKG) v [Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY)

[13] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)

[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA). —- WSF