By MICHAEL CATLING
QUALIFIER Emma Beddoes produced the first shock of the Hong Kong Open as she recovered from two games down to beat world number eight Low Wee Wern in a pulsating encounter at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.
Beddoes, who is ranked 25th in the world, was knocked out in the first-round of the tournament last year and it looked like she was heading for a similar fate after failing to capitalise on two game-balls in the second to trail the Malaysian 2-0.
However, the 28-year-old rallied against adversity to storm back and shock the number six seed 8-11, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 in 72 gruelling minutes.
The England number seven will now face home-favourite Annie Au for a place in the quarter-finals, after the world number 16 battled past qualifier Yathreb Ade in another five-setter.
The Hong Kong number one twice led against her Egyptian opponent, before being pegged back brilliantly by the 17-year-old to take the match into a decider.
However, Au quickly increased the intensity against her tiring opponent and eased through the last game to win 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2; much to the delight of the local supporters.
At the bottom of the draw, world number two Laura Massaro moved into the second-round with a comfortable 11-2, 11-8, 11-9 success over French qualifier Coline Aumard.
The British Open champion is hoping to make her third successive WSA final this week and now faces a tricky match against Rachael Grinham on Thursday, after the former world number one overcame Egyptian youngster Salma Hany Ibrahim 11-9, 13-11, 11-5.
Elsewhere, 20-year-old Nour El Tayeb caused the second upset of the day by beating newly-engaged Dipika Pallikal in straight games.
The world number 27 narrowly edged a tight opening game, before easing through the next two to triumph 15-13, 11-6, 11-2 over the number 14 seed.
Tayeb’s reward is a last 16 encounter with world number three Raneem El Weleily, who ended Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz-Ling challenge with a straight game victory in just 21 minutes.
World number 10 Madeline Perry (pictured right) also lived up to her billing as the overwhelming favourite by brushing aside Mariam Metwally of Egypt in four, quick games.
The Irish number one struggled to dictate proceedings against her younger opponent but after losing the second game, she regained the initiative to triumph 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6.
The 36-year-old meets Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy in the next round, after the 28-year-old fought back from losing a lengthy opening game to beat South African Sivoli Waters 14-16, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
The top half of the draw will play their first-round matches tomorrow, with world number one Nicol David in action against qualifier Sam Cornett tomorrow afternoon.
Round One – Women’s Results:
Emma Beddoes 3-2 [6] Low Wee Wern (Mas) 8-11, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (72m)
[12] Annie Au (Hkg) 3–2 Yathreb Adel (Egy) 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2 (68m)
[8] Madeline Perry (Irl) 3-1 Mariam Metwally (Egy) 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6 (30m)
[11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 3-1 Sivoli Waters (Rsa) 14-16, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)
[13] Rachael Grinham (Aus) 3-0 [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (Egy) 11-9, 13-11, 11-5 (31m)
[2] Laura Massaro(Eng) 3-0 [Q] Coline Aumard (Fra)Â 11-2, 11-8, 11-9 (26m)
Nour El Tayeb (Egy) 3-0 [14] Dipika Pallikal (Ind) 15/13, 11/6, 11/2 (34m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 3-0 Liu Tsz-Ling (Hkg) 11/7, 11/6, 11/8 (21m)
Round One – Women’s Draw:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) v Sam Cornett (Can) – 18:45pm
[9] Camille Serme (Fra) v Emily Whitlock (Eng) – 18:00pm
[16] Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) v Donna Urquhart (Aus) – 15:00pm
Joey Chan (Hkg) v [5] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) – 15:45pm
[4] Alison Waters v Misaki Kobayashi (Jpn) – 16:30pm
[10] Kasey Brown (Aus) v Tesni Evans (Wal) – 17:15pm
[15] Line Hansen (Den) v Sarah Kippax (Eng) – 19:30pm
Joshana Chinappa (Ind) v [7] Natalie Grinham – 20:15pm
Pictures by Steve Cubbins of squashsite.co.uk