By LEE HORTON
US Junior champion Sabrina Sohby, the second youngest player at the Delaware Investments U.S. Open in Philadelphia, booked her pace in the main draw, and a possible second round showdown with world No.1 Laura Massaro, with a quick-fire win last night.
And Egyptian wonder kid Nouran Ahmed Gohar, another 16-year-old, is right there in the main draw with her.
New Yorker Sabrina, ranked 60 in the world,  despatched Australian Melody Francis11-8, 13-11, 11-1 in just 22 minutes  to book her place in the first round where she faces Egyptian Nour El Tayeb. Massaro awaits the winner.
Sabrina is also in the same half of the draw as her older sister Amanda,  the 16th seed, who is paired with Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes. It could be a double busy time for the youngster this weekend. She revealed afterwards: ” I’m also playing in the JCT this weekend; there’s going to be a lot of squash”
Sabrina’s win ensured that five home players will compete in the main draw for the first time in the history of the event after  Olivia Blatchford also got through.
But it was Egypt’s Nouran Ahmed Gohar who became the youngest player to make the first round after removing Czech opponent Lucie Fialova 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 13-11. Gohar, who only celebrated her 16th birthday a week ago, will face New Zealand’s No5 seed Joelle King. Sabrina was 16 last December.
Australia’s Sarah Cardwell (pictured in US Open action above) gave herself the best possible 22nd birthday present by outlasting higher-ranked Pakistani Maria Toorpakai Wazir 11-2, 11-8, 2-11, 3-11, 11-8 in 46 minutes.
“I didn’t mean to change my game after going 2-0 up,” said the world No76 from Melbourne. “But I tried to finish it too quickly. At 5-1 down in the fifth I just about got it back in time!”
Other winners were Tesni Evans, of Wales, who beat US wildcard Elizabeth Eyre; Egypt’sKanzy Emad El-Defrawy, who upset Czech opponent Olga Ertlova; England’s Lisa Aitkenwho dismissed Brazil’s Thaisa Serafini in straight games; and New Zealander Kylie Lindsay who beat England’s Georgina Stoker in four games.
Before the draw was made, a delighted Lindsay (pictured in US Open action below) said: “It’s good to get through to play one of the top girls in my first U.S. Open. It’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever made the main draw of.”
Rather than ‘one of the top players’, the Kiwi was drawn to face THE top player – Malaysia’s world number one and title-holder Nicol David!
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Kylie Lindsay (NZL)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) v Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[15] Line Hansen (DEN) v Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Aisling Blake (IRL)
[12] Donna Urquhart (AUS) v [Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA)
[13] Sarah Kippax (ENG) v Latasha Khan (USA)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Nouran Ahmed Gohar (EGY)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [Q] Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
[16] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
[11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [Q] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v Samantha Teran (MEX)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [WC] Kristen Lange (USA)
[9] Kasey Brown (AUS) v [Q] Lisa Aitken (ENG)
[14] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [Q] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Victoria Lust (ENG)
Women’s Qualifying Finals:
Lisa Aitken (ENG) bt Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-3, 11-9, 11-2 (33m)
Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (27m)
Kanzy El Dafrawy (EGY) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 10-12, 13-11, 16-14, 11-9 (59m)
Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11-8, 13-11, 11-1 (22m)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 13-11 (64 m)
Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Elizabeth Eyre (USA) 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4 (42m)
Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) 11-2, 11-8, 2-11, 3-11, 11-8 (46m)
Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt Georgina Stoker (ENG) 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10 (40m)