Aussie qualifier takes out No.8 seed Joshna Chinappa in Texas tussle
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Australian qualifier Donna Urquhart provided the sole upset in the first round of the Women’s Texas Open when she defeated eighth seed Joshna Chinappa to claim a place in the quarter-finals of the WSA International 35 squash event at Life Time Fitness in Plano, USA.
The Brisbane-based left-hander, fighting to back to top form after foot surgery last year, battled for 43 minutes to quash Chinappa, the world No.21 from India, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8.
Former world No.13 Urquhart, currently ranked 35 in the world, will now face home hope Amanda Sobhy, the second seed.
The New York-born 21-year-old, who graduates from Harvard University in May, recovered from a game down to see off Egyptian qualifier Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy 5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 in 42 minutes.
There was Egyptian success in the top half of the draw when No.1 seed Nour El Tayeb quelled a spirited performance by English qualifier Victoria Lust.
Underdog Lust, ranked 26 in the world, took the opening game, but Cairo-based El Tayeb, the world No.5 making her Texas Open debut, regained the upper hand before closing out the match 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.
El Tayeb’s quarter-final opponent will be the winner of the clash between Emma Beddoes, the fifth seed from England, and Egyptian Heba El Torky – a match which will be completed today after being suspended at one-game-all.
Youth prevailed over experience in a first round battle which thoroughly entertained the Plano crowd.
Dutch star Natalie Grinham, the 37-year-old former world No.2, took the opening game against seventh seed Nouran Gohar, the 17-year-old world No.16 from Egypt.
But the Cairo teenager soon found the edge over Grinham – playing in only her second WSA Tour event since the birth of her second child – and romped to a 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 victory in 30 minutes.
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Women’s Texas Open, Plano, Texas, USA
1st round:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [Q] Victoria Lust (ENG) 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (42m)
[5] Emma Beddoes (ENG) v Heba El Torky (EGY) (match unfinished)
[4] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-6, 11-3, 12-10 (35m)
[6] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (63m)
[7] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Natalie Grinham (NED) 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
[3] Annie Au (HKG) bt Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4 (40m)
[Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [8] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (43m)
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) 5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 (42m)