Kippax gunning for Duncalf as she sails into her seventh quarter final
SARAH KIPPAX set up a revenge mission today when she sealed a quarter-final showdown with rival Jenny Duncalf at the Women’s British National Championship in Manchester.
The 30 year old 5/8 seed from Cheshire, who has reached the last eight for the past six years, lost out to former world number one Duncalf a year ago but wants to go one better when the two meet tomorrow (Friday).
Kippax took 51 minutes to remove Deon Saffery 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-5, while Duncalf was in quickfire mood as she took care of Julianne Courtice 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 in 25 minutes flat.
Afterwards, Sarah was in a confident mood: “The National Squash Championships is a local event for me, I always have lots of support and in the past I think that’s added quite a lot of extra pressure on me,” the world number 24 revealed
“I’m feeling much more relaxed this year – there’s no pressure on me now. Jenny and I have trained together in the past, she’s a top player. I’ve recorded wins against her in the past, so I’m really looking forward to it.
It has been a frustrating start to the year for Duncalf, who is chasing her third National title. She suffered first round exits at the Tournament of Champions and Cleveland Classic and is in danger of slipping outside the world’s top 10.
The former world number two said: “January was not great for me but I am feeling a lot happier with my form and a third title would be great. The Nationals rank very highly in my priorities. It’s a great title to have and an event that I am very fond of and feel comfortable at.”
In another mouthwatering last eight encounter, top seed Laura Massaro (pictured right) will meet world number 16 Sarah-Jane Perry after the duo advanced at the expense of Carrie Ramsey and Lisa Aitkens respectively.
Massaro, who suffered a surprise quarter-final defeat to Annie Au at the Cleveland Classic earlier this month, lived up to her billing as the overwhelming favourite with an 11-2, 11-5, 11-1 thrashing of Ramsey in just 28 minutes.
Perry also progressed in straight games but was forced to edge a first game tie-break before clinching a 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 win over world number 42 Aitken.
Emma Beddoes was another player not hanging about as the 5/8 seed needed just 23 minutes to end the interest of Fiona Moverley 11-9, 11-5, 11-2.
The world number 23 will meet second seed Alison Waters for a place in the last four, following the world number four’s 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 victory in 22 minutes against qualifier Amina Helal.
Elsewhere, Irish number one Madeline Perry was given a brief scare by 19-year-old Victoria Temple-Murray before securing an 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4 in 38 minutes.
The world number seven will now face teenager Emily Whitlock for a spot in the last four, after the world number 26 battled past Dominique Lloyd-Walter in straight games.
Pictures by Steve Cubbins (SquashSite)