El Tayeb and Abdel Kawy claim quarter-final slots in Alexandria International
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Egyptians claimed two of the four quarter-final slots on offer after today’s second round of the Women’s Alexandria International when Nour El Tayeb and Omneya Abdel Kawy secured four-game wins over qualifiers on an all-glass court in the WSA International 100 squash event at Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
Fifth seed El Tayeb took 62 minutes to overcome compatriot Kanzy Emad El Defrawy 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7.
“We’re good friends and practice a lot together, so it was a little strange to play her in a match like this,” said world No.5 El Tayeb. “It was a tough match, I’m just delighted to be in the quarters!”
Seventh seed Abdel Kawy, the former world No4 who had to come from behind to beat Australian Donna Urquhart in a dramatic five-game first round match, also had to overcome a deficit in her second round clash with Mariam Metwally.
But the 29-year-old ultimately got the better of Metwally, beating the 18-year-old 11-13, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 in 45 minutes.
“I was so up and down, the whole match, I felt like I was the one that won or lost,” said the relieved world No.9 (pictured right with Metwally).
“Thank God I managed to take the second game, it was really crucial.”
El Tayeb will now face favourite Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who is seeded to win her first title in Egypt since claiming a record eighth world crown in December in Cairo.
David survived two tie-break games as she overpowered Nouran Gohar, the 17-year-old 11th seed from Cairo, 13-11, 11-3, 12-10.
England’s No.3 seed Alison Waters awaits Abdel Kawy. The world No.6 from London defeated 16-year-old Egyptian Habiba Mohamed 11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8.
Women’s Alexandria International, Alexandria, Egypt:
2nd round (top half of draw):
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 13-11, 11-3, 12-10 (40m)
[5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [Q] Kanzy Emad El Defrawy (EGY) 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 (52m)
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-13, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (45m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [16] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8 (53m)
Pictures courtesy of WSA