More surprise results dominate the headlines from the *Hi-Tec Australian
Open* in Canberra as 19-year-old Havard student *Amanda Sobhy* beat another
seeded player to progress to the quarter-finals of the *WSA World Tour
Gold45* event.
The former World Junior Champion beat No.2 seed *Jenny Duncalf* in four
games, a feat that she previously attained at the Cleveland Classic in
February, when the world No.3 was forced to retire injured.
Sobhy will now face *Dipika Pallikal*, who also upset the seedings by
defeating No.6 *Camille Serme* of France in four games. The Indian
international came from a game behind to get the better of Serme and record
the biggest win of her career to date.
Two Australian hopefuls looking for a title win on home soil were drawn to
face each other in round two, the experienced *Rachael Grinham* against *Donna
Urquhart*. It was the 25-year-old from Yamba, New South Wales who started
the match quicker of the two, and Urquhart sprang away to a 2-game lead.
Grinham’s resolute and clever play saw her claw a game back in her favour
but the younger player held her nerve and closed out the match, ending the
former world No.1’s hopes of a second Australian Open title.
Urquhart progresses to face No.3 seed *Laura Massaro* who, despite being
forced to an early first-game tiebreak, played a steady game to see off
young teenager and fellow Englishwoman *Emily Whitlock*.
Also holding hopes of a home title win, *Kasey Brown* came from a game down
to beat *Joelle King* of New Zealand. The No.8 seed will now face the
experienced Irishwoman, *Madeline Perry* who, after a tie-break second
game, beat *Emma Beddoes* in three games to book her quarter-final place.
*Alison Waters* continued to make short work of her seeded opponents as she
got the better of No.5 seed *Annie Au*, gaining some revenge for her defeat
at the hand of the Hong Kong international at the Allam British Open second
round back in May.
Waters will face the biggest test of her injury comeback to date, as she is
faces World Open Champion and world No.1 *Nicol David* in the next round.
After dropping a game to Welsh youngster *Tesni Evans* in the first round,
David was in a clinical mood as she dispatched fellow Malaysian *Low Wee
Wern* in 32-minutes, dropping just 11 points in the whole match.
*Quarter-final matches:*
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Alison Waters (ENG)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [8] Kasey Brown (AUS)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [12] Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [11] Dipika Pallikal (IND)
*2nd round results:*
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [10] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 (32m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt [5] Annie Au (HKG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [16] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-8, 13-11, 11-2 (37m)
[8] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [9] Joelle King (NZL) 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
(50m)
[12] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-5, 11-7,
6-11, 11-4 (34m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 14-12, 11-8, 11-9
(35m)
[11] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [6] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-11, 11-9, 11-9,
11-6 (43m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-7, 10-12, 11-7,
11-6
