Malaysia, Sept 12, 2013: Alison Waters, the world No4 from England who has reached at least the quarter-finals in her last 12 WSA World Tour events, today crashed out of the second round of the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur after an impressive performance from Camille Serme, the world No12 from France.
It was after an injury-affected 2010 and 2011 that Londoner Waters slumped to 44 in the world – but bounced back stronger than ever at the beginning of last year, winning five Tour titles in six months and soaring back to a world ranking just one position short of her career-high world No3.
But today belonged to European champion Serme, whose effective use of lobs and drop shots in the last 16 round of the third WSA World Series event of the year at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre saw the 10th seed clinch a shock 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 win in 48 minutes – her career-first victory over 29-year-old Waters.
“I thought I could win this match and I knew I had to show her I could win the match,” explained the French number one from Creteil afterwards. “I wanted to try and get inside her head a bit by reducing my errors.”
“I feel very happy with my win today and with the way I played. I had never beaten her before so I knew it was going to be tough!
“But I managed to play the right tactic plan and I was feeling good physically. I was pushing hard so I’m glad I won at the end.”
Serme will now play her third English opponent in the event after Sarah-Jane Perry, the Birmingham-born 16th seed ended Joey Chan’s run by beating the unseeded 25-year-old from Hong Kong 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8.
“Good match for me,” said Perry. “I’ve never played Joey before – she is nimble and fast around the court, so I had to be in the best of form to beat her. It’s my first time here and I’m enjoying it.
“I’ve not really been on the tour for long because of studies, so getting into the quarters is a good result for me.”
Top seed Nicol David, the Malaysian star whose first round win yesterday was enough to ensure a remarkable 87th successive month at the top of the women’s world rankings next month, moved comfortably into the quarter-finals after an 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 win over career-long rival Omneya Abdel Kawy.
The victory over the 11th seed from Egypt sets up an all-Malaysian affair at the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya against fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern.
Sixth seed Wern needed 73 minutes to subdue ninth-seeded Australian Kasey Brown 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.
“The season is really kicking off now at this CIMB Malaysian Open and we’ll be moving over to the glass court at The Curve Shopping Mall,” said David after today’s match.
“I’ll be playing Low Wee Wern tomorrow in the quarters. It’s been some time since we’ve played each other in competitions and suddenly I’m playing her for the second time within the last two weeks – at the Nationals and at this tournament. Should be a good match out there tomorrow!”
England team-mates Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro also reserved their anticipated places in the last eight – No7 seed Duncalf beating Australian rival Rachael Grinham 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 in the pair’s 17th Tour clash since 2003, and second seed Massaro ending the run of Guyana qualifier Nicolette Fernandes 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 after 40 minutes.
“Today was the round of last 16 and I was playing Nicolette Fernandes from Guyana,” explained world No2 Massaro in a blog from the event. “She had a great win in the first round beating the seeded Donna Urquhart 3/0 so I knew she was in form and playing well.
“I respect Nicolette a lot as she is over in Harrogate a lot where we both train with David Pearson. Although I haven’t been on court with her I see her professionalism and this made me take the challenge of playing her very seriously.
“Tomorrow I’m up against world number 5 Joelle King from New Zealand at 2pm on the glass court at the Curve Mall.”
King, the fifth seed beat Hong Kong’s Annie Au 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 – while third seed Raneem El Weleily single-handedly carried Egyptian intertest into the last eight by beating India’s Dipika Pallikal 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2.
RESULTS: Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2nd round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (38m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (73m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (48m)
[16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 (50m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 (35m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (41m)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Annie Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) v [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [5] Joelle King (NZL)
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