Squash : CIMB Singapore Women’s Masters Update

Hong Kong’s Annie Au stunned Egypt’s World No 6 Omneya Abdel Kawy in biggest upset of the first round at the CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash Masters 2010.

The 21-year-old twice came back from a game down to push the match to a fifth game. In the decider, Au got herself to the brink of victory at 10-6 before nerves took over. Omneya took three straight points to narrow the score to 10-9 but that was as close as the Egyptian got as Au took the winning point to record her first victory over a top 10 player. It was Au’s first competitive meeting with the enigmatic player from Cairo, and one which she did not wish for given her dismayed reaction last night after being drawn to face Omneya. But that’s all forgotten now as the 2008 WISPA Young Player of the Year continue to consolidate her position as Hong Kong’s leading player, with veteran Rebecca Chiu set to retire after November’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

“I was nervous in the first game and could not catch Omneya’s shots. But I told myself not to give up and just concentrate and play a good game,” said Au with a rare smile. Her quarter-final assignment does not get easier as she will face sixth seed Madeline Perry who despatched Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern in four games.

Hong Kong Squash Association Head Coach, Tony Choi, is pleased with Au’s continued progress: “Annie’s had a good lead-up before this tournament with wins last month in Kuwait and France, so she is physically and mentally in tune. There was really no pressure on her facing a top ten player like Omneya and I’m happy she managed to pull off the win.”

No joy, though, for Chiu as she went down tamely to Alison Waters in straight games, while second seed Rachael Grinham ended the home challenge by outclassing Pamela Chua.

For Chua, who’s heading back to California soon to resume her Mathematical and Computational Studies at Stanford University. the 18-minute workout emphasised the difference between her, a varsity player, and Grinham, a fulltime touring professional.

“Rachael is very skilful and has a wide array of shots. I found it hard to work out where the next shot was coming from,” said Chua, Grinham, though, was complimentary.

“There were no easy points, Pamela were in the rallies and I couldn’t let up for a minute,” said the 2007 World Open champion. “She moves and hits well but she’’s got to play more of these matches to get used to the intensity.”

WISPA President Natalie Grainger came through a 45-minute battle with Malaysia’s Delia Arnold. The 33-year-old fought back from two games down to win a match that got a little testy towards to end.

“I haven’t played that much lately, so it was a matter of finding the right shots and getting the fluidity back, and even adjusting to seeing the ball early,” said the US-based player. “I’m really pleased to be able to come back into the game with a change of tactics, and simply hitting the ball a little deeper.”

Grainger will meet Grinham next in a battle of the former World no 1s.

The pick of the first round matches saw France’s Camille Serme taken to five games by Australian Donna Urquhart. The unique match turned into a real battle of wills between two supremely fit and highly athletic players.

World no 10 Serme breezed through the first two games before handing back her advantage to a determined Urquhart, ranked eight places below her. The Frenchwoman’s concentration seemed to flit in and out but she managed to stay focused long enough to win 11-8 in the fifth and set up a meeting with Waters.

Australia’s Kasey Brown started proceedings at Leisure Park in Kallang with a four-game win over trans-Tasman rival Jacklyn Hawkes. And the name of her opponent was confirmed seven matches later in the day’s final tie featuring World no 1 Nicol David against Egypt’s Raneem El Weleily.

Nicol is the draw at this annual tournament where she is adopted as a local by Singaporean fans. And she gave them a scare by dropping her first game 8-11 to El Weleily. The 26-year-old from Penang duly sharpened her focus – and her game – to motor through to the final eight.

1st round results:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (42m)

[7] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-3, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 (55m)

[Q] Annie Au (HKG) bt [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9 (46m)

[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 12-10, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5 (36m)

[8] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8 (48m)

[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (26m)

[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2 (45m)

[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Pamela Chua (SIN) 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (18m)