Friday, March 29, 2024

Misery for Massaro as Beddoes claims career-best victory in Chicago shock

Emma Beddoesw gets in front of Laura Massaro
Emma Beddoes gets in front of Laura Massaro. Pictures by MARIAN KRAUS

Emma Beddoes reaches Windy City Open quarter-finals with massive win over Laura Massaro
By HOWARD HARDINGĀ – Squash Mad Reporter

England’s Emma Beddoes recorded one of the best wins of her career in the Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company when she overcame compatriot Laura Massaro, the defending champion ranked three in the world, to reach the quarter-finals of the first WSA World Series squash event of the year at the University Club of Chicago, USA.

After two straight games defeats to the former world champion, it was Beddoes’ first Tour victory over her illustrious England team-mate – and takes the world No.16 from Leeds into her first World Series event quarter-final for more than three years.

Massaro twice led in the match – but underdog Beddoes (pictured above, right, in action with Massaro) battled back both times to draw level, surviving a tie-break fourth game to force the decider.

It was after almost an hour of play that the 16th seed clinched her breakthrough victory, winning 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7 to secure her surprise place in the event’s last eight.

“I can’t quite believe I’ve just won,” exclaimed the jubilant 29-year-old Beddoes afterwards. “It felt like a real battle and I don’t think that either of us were playing our best out there – but to win is just brilliant.

“My short game has been improving a lot in recent years and on a court like this if you play the shots well you get rewarded so I’m just really pleased to get through this one in good health and we’ll see how the rest of the week goes.”

 

Sarah-Jane Perry is trapped behind Camille Serme
Sarah-Jane Perry is trapped behind Camille Serme

Beddoes progresses to face sixth seed Camille Serme after the French number one ended 14th seed Sarah-Jane Perry’s winning streak. With unexpected title triumphs last month at the British National Championships and the WSA Granite Open in Canada, the 24-year-old England had been enjoying the best run of her career.

But it took exactly an hour for Serme, the world No.6 from Creteil to stop Perry – winning 11-9, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5 to claim a second successive quarter-final berth in Chicago.

Whilst the 2014 champion has been denied the opportunity to emulate her former success, runner-up Raneem El Welily is on course to reach the final for the second successive year.

The No.2 seed from Egypt overcame fellow countrywoman Omneya Abdel Kawy, the ninth seed, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 and will now face Malaysian Low Wee Wern for a place in the semi-finals.

Rachael Grinham is worked into the front corner by Low Wee Wern
Rachael Grinham is worked into the front corner by Low Wee Wern

The seventh seed from Penang recorded her fourth successive win over Australian Rachael Grinham – bringing their career head-to-head tally to four wins apiece – but was taken the full distance by the former world number one and world champion before winning 7-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6.Ā 

Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, University Club, Chicago, USA.

Ā Women’s 2nd round (lower half of draw):

[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [14] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-9, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5 (60m)
[16] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7 (58m)
[7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [11] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 7-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6 (58m)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 (44m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Alison Waters (ENG)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [8] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[16] Emma Beddoes (ENG) v [6] Camille Serme (FRA)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS)

For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com

Ā 

Pictures byĀ MARIAN KRAUS (Windy City Open)

 

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