Sobhy sinks Pallikal to keep US hopes alive in Cleveland
By JERMAINE XABA
England’s Sarah-Jane Perry powered into the semi-finals of the Cleveland Classic after beating the higher-ranked Annie Au of Hong Kong 3-2.
Perry fought her way back into the match after trailing 2-1 to the world No.11. Perry is just two places behind her and on this showing seems destined for a place in the world top 10.
After two tight games, which went either way, Perry suffered a dip in the third as Au looked set to take control. However, the tall English girl returned to the court with renewed focus. She dropped three points in the fourth and finished strongly in the fifth to win 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3, 11-7.
In the semi-final Perry faces the top seed, Camille Serme, which will provide a thorough test of her credentials. Serme overcame India’s Joshua Chinappa in four games and admitted that reverting to a basic game had proved successful after attempting to be too elaborate in the second.
American number one Amanda Sobhy continued her run of excellent form by overcoming India’s Dipika Pallikal in three hard-hitting games. England’s experienced Alison Waters ended the run of Sobhy’s American team-mate Olivia Blatchford, winning two tiebreaks to set up a semi-final with Sobhy. It is a rematch of their quarter-final clash in the Tournament of Champions, which the American won in straight games at Grand Central Terminal.
PSA CLEVELAND CLASSIC DAY QUARTER FINALS
1. CAMILLE SERME (FRA) vs JOSHNA CHINAPPA
Camille Serme won. 3-1. (11-4; 5-11; 11-8; 11-2)
…”it was hard to focus. Tactically I tried too much in the second game that I lost and had to return back to basics”
2. SARAH JANE PERRY (ENG) vs ANNIE AU (HKG)
Sarah Jane Perry won. 3-2. (8-11; 12-10; 3-11; 11-3; 11-7)
…”I used be a little fat kid so I had to learn how to strike the ball well.”
3. AMANDA SOHBY vs DIPIKA PALLIKAL
Amanda Sohby won. 3-0. (11-6; 11-7; 11-8).
…” Game plan was to keep it on her backhand and get good length. She is hard hitter of the ball and had to keep away from her forehand.”
4. ALISON WATERS (ENG) vs OLIVIA BLATCHFORD (USA)
Alison Waters won 3-0. (12-10; 11-3; 12-10).
… “Experience played a big role tonight. I didn’t want to drop a game because mentally that would have made Olivia better.”
$50,000 Women’s Tub O’ Towels Cleveland Classic 2016, Cleveland Racquet Club, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Semi-finals:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) v [5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[2] Alison Waters (ENG) v [4] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [6] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-2
[5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [3] Annie Au (HKG) 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3, 11-7
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
[2] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 12-10, 11-3, 12-10
1st round:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-8, 11-2, 11-4
[6] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [Q] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 3-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9
[5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3, 11-7
[3] Annie Au (HKG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Victoria Lust (ENG) 9-11, 11-4, 11-13, 12-10, 11-4
Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9
[Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6
[2] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
Qualifying finals:
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-3, 5-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-7
Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 11-2, 11-9, 11-9
Georgina Stoker (ENG) bt Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) 3-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8
Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 13-11, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7
1st qualifying round:
Heba El Torky (EGY) bye
Samantha Teran (MEX) bye
Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt Reyna Pacheco (USA) 11-2, 11-4, 11-3
Tesni Evans (WAL) bye
Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bye
Georgina Stoker (ENG) bt Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-3, 15-13, 5-11, 11-9
Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Colette Sultana (MLT) 11-0, 11-4, 11-2
Donna Urquhart (AUS) bye
Pictures by ANDREA DAWSON