El Welily Downs David For Career-Biggest Title In Windy
City
Egypt's world No.2Raneem
El Welilyclaimed the
biggestWSA World Toursquash
title of her career when she upset Malaysian favouriteNicol
Davidin the final of theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance CompanyinChicago,
USA.
David, the 31-year-old world No.1, was celebrating the
99th Tour final of her career in theWSA
World Seriesat theUniversity
Club of Chicago- and
reached the climax in style without dropping a game.
By contrast, 26-year-old El Welily (pictured above, left,
in action with David) was taken the full distance in her semi-final
against sixth seedCamille
Serme- and was forced to
fight back from 2/1 down before beating the world No.6 from France.
The Cairo queen went into the final 3/17 down on a career
head-to-head record with David over the past ten years.
And David, who has topped the world rankings unopposed
since August 2006, took the lead after surviving a tense first game
tie-break.
The second game also went to a tie-break, which El Welily
won to draw level.
El Welily continued to maintain the upper hand, and after
57 minutes recorded the biggest win of her life by beating the sport's
dominant player for almost a decade 14-16, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to win,"said
El Welily, who scored 29 winners in the match, against 19 by her
illustrious opponent."I
always enjoy playing Nicol - and all credit to her, she played a great
tournament and a great match. She's a great athlete."
When reminded of her recentWorld
Championshipclash with
David, when she squandered a match-ball in the final, El Welily
(pictured above with men's championNick Matthew) commented:"I
thought I'd forgotten about that match until I was 2/1 up and had
match-ball at 10-6.
The world's top two squash players will contest the
women's final of theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companyafter
Malaysia's world number oneNicol
Davidand Egypt'sRaneem
El Welily, the world No.2, prevailed in contrasting semi-finals of
theWSA World Seriesevent
at theUniversity Club of ChicagoinChicago,
USA.
After her shock quarter-final exit at theTournament
of Championsin New York
in January, David has been in scintillating form. The 31-year-old from
Penang swept through the field of theWSA
International Cleveland Classicin
Ohio last month to win the title without dropping a game - and extended
this straight games run in Chicago with an 11-9, 13-11, 12-10 semi-final
victory over Egypt's eighth seedNour
El Tayeb.
The win takes David into the 99thWSA
World Tourfinal of her
career - one step away from her 80th title triumph!
"I tried hard to stick to my game plan tonight and to
keep my focus and I really fought hard and dug deep in each of those
games to make sure she did not take them,"explained
the Malaysian who has topped the women's world rankings unopposed since
August 2006.
"It's exciting to be here in Chicago playing this
tournament and it's fantastic for women's squash that there is equal
prize money for the women - and to be in with a chance of winning the
title makes it extra special.
"I'm very pleased to be in the final and I'm going to
prepare for the final tomorrow to make sure I am ready."
El Welily, winner of the 2015 Tournament of Champions
title, is unbeaten by any player on the WSA Tour - except for David -
since October last year.
But the 26-year-old from Cairo was taken the full
distance before surviving her Chicago semi-final against France'sCamille
Serme.
The pair have been rivals throughout their careers - and
contested both theWorld
Junior ChampionshipandBritish
Junior U19 Openfinals in
2007.
Sixth seed Serme opened up a 2/1 lead in their latest
encounter, but El Welily regained control in the fourth before closing
out the match 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3 in 58 minutes to extend her
Tour head-to-head record over the world No.6 from Creteil to 6/2.
David and El Welily will be celebrating their 21st Tour
meeting since July 2006 - and their 11th in a final. The Malaysian
currently leads the head-to-head 17/3.
Egypt'sNour
El Tayebavenged a
five-game defeat by compatriotNour
El Sherbiniin January'sTournament
of Championsin New York
when she upset the world No.4 in straight games in the quarter-finals of
theWindy City Open
presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company-
theWSA World Seriessquash
event at theUniversity
Club of ChicagoinChicago,
USA.
"I watched our match from ToC to see where I went wrong
and what mistakes I made,"admitted
the 21-year-old from Cairo (picture above, foreground, with El Sherbini)
after her resounding 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 victory.
"I made a game plan today and stuck to it - and
thankfully I was able to come through the match!"
Team-mates in Egypt's 2012World
Team Championship-winning squad, El Tayeb and El Sherbini were
marking their seventh Tour clash, with world No.7 El Tayeb celebrating
her first win since October 2011.
"Nour and I are very good friends, we are even sharing a
room here at this tournament, so we'll put the match behind us now and
go out for some food,"added
El Tayeb, now in the Windy City semi-finals for the first time.
New York revenge was also in the air for the young
Egyptian's next opponent: World No.1Nicol
Davidsuffered a rare
quarter-final exit at this year's Tournament of Champions when a
powerful performance fromAlison
Waterssaw the English
underdog beat the favourite for only the second time in 25 meetings.
But the Malaysian was back to her supreme best at the
Cathedral Hall in Chicago where David defeated Waters 12-10, 12-10, 11-7
in 40 minutes.
"Alison was on form and finding the angles today but I
managed to get going midway through that first game,"explained
the 31-year-old from Penang (picture above, left, with Waters) later."She's
had a few wins over me recently so I knew I would have to work hard to
win today.
"At ToC she was a better player on the day but today I
was aiming to play my best and I'm really glad to come through in three
games,"added
David - who now faces El Tayeb in a bid to reach the 99thWSA
World Tourfinal of her
career.
Camille Sermeand
2014 runner-upRaneem El
Welilywill celebrate
their second successive appearances in the semi-finals after prevailing
in the quarter-finals in the lower half of the draw.
Serme, the new world No.6 from France, ended England'sEmma
Beddoes' impressive Chicago run, beating the 16th seed 11-4, 11-2,
11-5.
El Welily, the world No.2 from Egypt, won her 10th Tour
meeting with MalaysianLow
Wee Wern, beating the seventh seed 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-9.
England'sEmma
Beddoesrecorded one of
the best wins of her career in theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companywhen
she overcame compatriotLaura
Massaro, the defending champion ranked three in the world, to reach
the quarter-finals of the firstWSA
World Seriessquash event
of the year at theUniversity
Club of ChicagoinChicago,
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."
Beddoes progresses to face sixth seedCamille
Sermeafter the French
number one ended 14th seedSarah-Jane
Perry's winning streak. With unexpected title triumphs last month at
theBritish National
Championshipsand theWSA
Granite Openin 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 (pictured above, left, with Perry), 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-upRaneem
El Welilyis on course to
reach the final for the second successive year.
The No.2 seed from Egypt overcame fellow countrywomanOmneya
Abdel Kawy, the ninth seed, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 and will now face
MalaysianLow Wee Wernfor
a place in the semi-finals.
The seventh seed from Penang recorded her fourth
successive win over AustralianRachael 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.
2nd
Round Top Half
Seeds Safely Through In Chicago
The four seeds in action on day three of theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companysafely
secured slots in the women's quarter-finals of theWSA
World Seriessquash event
at theUniversity Club of
ChicagoinChicago,
USA.
It was a revenge win for fourth seedNour
El Sherbiniwhen the
19-year-old Egyptian made up for the shock defeat by Hong Kong'sAnnie
Auin last month'sCleveland
Classicin Ohio.
El Sherbini, the world No.4 (pictured above, left, with
Au) in her maiden appearance in the Chicago championship, needed 45
minutes to see off the tenth-seeded left-hander 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8.
"Even when I was 2/0 it wasn't easy today against Annie,"admitted
the Alexandria-based teenager afterwards."She
came back well in the third and then was playing really positive in the
fourth so I'm happy I was able to hang in there.
"We played just a few weeks ago and she beat me so I felt
like I needed to win today to make sure I don't lose to her twice in a
row and I'm happy to win."
El Sherbini will now face compatriotNour
El Tayebto ensure
Egyptian interest in the semi-finals. In the opening match of the day,
the 21-year-old No.8 seed from Cairo defeated 13th seedMadeline
Perry, the 38-year-old world No.14 from Ireland, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 in
a victory which brings the pair's career head-to-head tally to three
wins apiece.
Revenge will be in the air in the other quarter-final
line-up settled after straight games wins byNicol
DavidandAlison
Waters.
Top seed David, the world No.1 from Malaysia, defeated
qualifierHeba El Torky,
the world No.26 from Egypt, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7.
"She's Egyptian so you have to expect her to be shooting
from all over the court and you just have to be prepared to work hard
throughout all the rallies,"explained
the 31-year-old from Penang (pictured above at full stretch against El
Torky) who is poised to reach the 99thWSA
World Tourfinal of her
career in Chicago.
"I knew I had to be sharp from the start and I'm really
pleased to win three love today.
"It's fantastic that the organisers and the sponsors here
at the Windy City Open have managed to make prize money at this event
equal for women and it's a great boost for all the girls. It's my first
ever time here in Chicago so I'm looking forward to trying my best to
win here this week."
Waters, the world No.5 from England, also ousted a
qualifier - in this case compatriotVictoria Lustin
a 13-11, 11-5, 11-4 victory in 32 minutes.
It was earlier this year, at theTournament
of Championsin New York,
that Waters produced one her finest performances on a squash court to
beat David in only her second win over the eight-time world champion in
25 meetings.
England'sLaura
Massarobegan the defence
of herWindy City Open
presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companytitle
in style inChicagowhen
she beat Malaysian qualifierDelia
Arnoldin four games on
the second day of first round action in the firstWSA
World Seriessquash event
of the year at theUniversity
Club of Chicago.
The former world champion from Preston (pictured above,
right, with Arnold), ranked three in the world, recovered from a game
down to extend her unbeaten run over world No.28 Arnold, winning 7-11,
11-5, 11-6, 13-11.
Massaro now takes on England team-mateEmma
Beddoes, the 16th seed from Leeds. Beddoes had the easiest run
through to the last 16 round, barely breaking sweat after her Egyptian
opponentSalma Hany
Ibrahimconceded their
match with just four points on the scoreboard.
There was further English success on the night whenSarah-Jane
Perrypowered pastNicolette
Fernandes, registering her first win over the world No.20 from
Guyana 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 after 37 minutes.
World No.16 Perry, who arrived in the USA fresh from her
surpriseBritish National
Championshiptitle
success in Manchester - where she beat favourite Massaro to claim the
trophy for the first time - now takes on French number oneCamille
Serme.
The sixth seed from Creteil crushed top-ranked CanadianSamantha
Cornett11-6, 11-5, 11-3
in just 26 minutes to make the second round for the second year in a
row.
Second seedRaneem
El Welily, the world No.2 from Egypt (pictured above, right, with
Hansen) who was the 2014 runner-up, eased into the second round after
seeing off Danish qualifierLine
Hansen11-3, 11-5, 11-3.
"Only got 25 min on the glass court tonight!!"Hansen
told her Twitter followers shortly afterwards."Raneem
was in chop chop mood."
El Welily, 26, from Cairo, now also faces a fellow
countrywoman in the next round when she takes onOmneya
Abdel Kawy. The Cairo-based No.9 seed got the better ofTesni
Evans, beating the Welsh qualifier 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8.
In her maiden meeting with fast-rising Egyptian teenagerHabiba
Mohamed, Malaysia's No.7 seedLow
Wee Wernneeded 65
minutes to secure an 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6 victory.
"Happy with my 3-1 win against EgyptianHabiba
Mohamedtoday!"tweeted
the world No.8 (pictured above, right, with Mohamed) from Penang
afterwards."Looking
forward to a rest day tmr before taking onRachael
Grinham!"
1st
Round Top Half
Qualifiers Shake Off Seeds In Chicago
QualifiersHeba
El TorkyandVictoria
Lustadvanced in theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companyin
the USA after impressive upsets on the opening day of main draw action
in the firstWSA World
Seriessquash event of
the year at theUniversity
Club of ChicagoinChicago.
Lust, the world No.31 from England who is based in
Canada, recovered from a game down to beat rising Egyptian starNouran
Gohar, the 17-year-old from Cairo who is the event's 15th seed.
After the 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 win was credited on
social media to 'Victory Lust', the 25-year-old from Luton tweeted
"loving my new name!"
Egypt was the beneficiary of the second upset when
Alexandria-based El Torky toppledDipika Pallikal, the 12th seed
from India, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6.
It was a disappointing day for India when Pallikal'sCommonwealth
GamesWomen's Doubles
gold medallist partnerJoshana
Chinappa, the 2011 champion, also exited after losing 11-8, 11-3,
12-10 to Egypt's 8th seedNour
El Tayeb(pictured
above, right, with Chinappa).
There was much anticipation for the comeback appearance
ofNatalie Grinham,
the former world No.2 from the Netherlands making her return to theWSA
World Tourjust seven months after the birth of her second child.
The 36-year-old boasted a 9/2 career head-to-head over
opponentAlison Watersgoing
into the match - and forced two games into tie-breaks in her first
professional match for more than a year.
But it was Londoner Waters, the world No.5 from England(pictured
above with Grinham, foreground), who ultimately prevailed - winning
12-10, 11-3, 12-10 to earn her anticipated place in the last 16 round.
Top seedNicol
Davidalso had a
comfortable first round victory, extinguishing home interest in the
championship after beating US wildcardOlivia
Blatchford11-3, 11-6,
12-10 in her first Tour meeting with the 22-year-old from New York.
David, the world No.1 from Malaysia expected to notch up
her 99th WSA Tour final appearance in Chicago, will now face El Torky
for a place in the quarter-finals.
Qualifiers From Eight Nations Blow Into Windy City Main
Draw
Eight qualifiers from eight separate nations earned
places in the main draw of theWindy City Open presented by Guggenheim
and EquiTrust Life Insurance Companyafter
fierce battles in the women's qualifying finals of the firstWSA
World Seriessquash event
of the year, at theUniversity
Club of ChicagoinChicago,
USA.
Samantha Cornettdoubled
North American interest in the championship after recovering from two
games down to beat top-ranked Japanese opponentMisaki
Kobayashi9-11, 7-11,
11-7, 12-10, 11-9 in 54 minutes. In her first appearance in the main
draw, the Canadian number one who is ranked 32 in the world will take on
France's sixth seedCamille
Serme.
MalaysianDelia
Arnoldalso stared defeat
in the face after losing the first two games in her final qualifying
encounter against Welsh opponentDeon
Saffery. But the 29-year-old from Selangor dug deep to regain the
upper hand before closing out the match 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 in
75 minutes.
Arnold, ranked 28 in the world, now lines up against
defending championLaura
Massaro, the world No.3 from England who won the title for the first
time last year.
Mexico'sSamantha
Teranalso earned herself
the chance to win the title for a second time after despatching France'sColine
Aumard11-8, 11-8, 11-7.
The 33-year-old world No.33, the champion in 2008, will take onMadeline
Perry, the 13th seed from Ireland who last week won her 15th
national title.
Antipodean qualifying success came courtesy ofAmanda
Landers-Murphy, the world No.48 from New Zealand who became the
lowest-ranked player to survive after upsetting England's world No.29Emily
Whitlock3-11, 11-8,
11-8, 11-4.
WhileVictoria
Lustboosted English
interest in the event after beating Egypt'sMariam
Metwally7-11, 11-4,
11-5, 10-12, 11-6, Egyptian success came whenHeba
El Torkydefeated US veteranLatasha
Khan14-12, 11-8, 15-13.
Tesni EvansandLine
Hansensecured slots in
the main draw for the first time after straight games wins: Welsh
champion Evans beat Dutch opponentMilou
van der Heijden11-5,
11-6, 11-5, while Dane Hansen denied South African interest in Chicago
after seeing off Cape Town-basedSiyoli
Waters11-9, 11-6, 11-5.
Malaysia's world number oneNicol
Davidwill be making her
Windy City Open debut against US wild cardOlivia
Blatchford. The 31-year-old from Penang, who this month became the
sport's longest-reigning world number one of all-time, is seeded to
reach her 99thWSA World
Tourfinal - where she is
due to face 2014 runner-upRaneem
El Welily, the world No.2 from Egypt.
Second seed El Welily, 26, from Cairo, begins her 2015
campaign against qualifier Hansen.
More than a year since last competing on the WSA World
Tour, and just seven months after the birth of her second child, former
world number twoNatalie
Grinhamwill be making
her comeback at the 2015 Windy City Open.
Winner of 19 Tour titles in a distinguished career which
began 20 years ago, 36-year-old Grinham will take on England's fifth
seedAlison Waters.
Just seven months after the birth of her second child,
former world number twoNatalie Grinhamwill
make her comeback at the firstWomen's
Squash Association World Serieschampionship
of the year, theWindy
City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and EquiTrust Life Insurance
CompanyinChicagofrom
26 February to 4 March.
TheWorld
Series Platinumevent is
making history by offering the richest purse in North America this year
and providing parity for men's and women's prize money. The Windy City
Open, hosted by theUniversity
Club of Chicagoand
staged in the club's prestigiousCathedral
Hall, is one of only two Pro Squash World Series Events to offer
prize money parity for men and women professionals.
Australia-born Grinham, a record triple gold medallist in
the 2006Commonwealth
Gameswho now represents
the Netherlands where she boasts three national titles, is excited about
making her latest Tour comeback after the birth of her second son Ryan
on 31st July last year.
"I feel like an addict about to get my fix," admitted the
36-year-old from Hoofddorp. "I am excited to be going back on tour, but
at the same time nervous and curious."
Grinham, who has appeared in 44 WSA World Tour finals and
boasts 19 titles, lines up againstAlison
Waters, the world No.5 from England, in the first round in the top
half of the draw.
"How far will I get, and will I be satisfied?" continued
Grinham(pictured above
with Ryan). "I think it's possible to get back to being competitive
at the highest level.
"Having two kids requires a lot more structure, so it's
going to be tougher this time - but I do love a challenge!"
The draw also includes Natalie's older sisterRachael
Grinham, the 11th seed. The former world number one faces Hong
Kong'sJoey Chanin
the other half of the draw.
Malaysia's reigning world number oneNicol
Davidis seeded to win
her 61st WSA World Series title in Chicago. The 31-year-old from Penang,
who last month won a record eighth world title, opens her Windy City
Open campaign against US wild cardOlivia Blatchford.
The draw predicts a final between David andRaneem
El Welily, the Egyptian who moved up to two in the January world
rankings after reaching December'sWadi
Degla World Championshipfinal
at her home club in Cairo against expectations.
Defending championLaura
Massaro, who beat El Welily in last year's final, is the event's
third seed. The world No.3 from England faces a qualifier in the opening
round.