Lengthorn Lashes Duncalf In Tournament of Champions Upset

The first day of main draw action in the women's Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions in New York produced a notable upset at Grand Central Terminal when unseeded Laura-Jane Lengthorn beat seventh-seeded English compatriot Jenny Duncalf in straight games.

"I haven't beaten her since I was 19," commented 24-year-old Lengthorn, from Preston in Lancashire, after her 'war-of-the-roses' win over her Yorkshire opponent who will make her Commonwealth Games debut for England later this month in Melbourne, Australia.

Lengthorn's 9-6 9-2 9-2 win in just 27 minutes takes her forward to a quarter-final clash with USA's third seed Natalie Grainger, who despatched US-based English qualifier Fiona Geaves 9-0 9-2 9-5 in 20 minutes.

Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy made up for the disappointment of a shock first round exit in last month's KL Open in Malaysia by eliminating England's Alison Waters 9-5, 9-5, 10-8. The fifth seed from Cairo will now take on another English opponent, 2005 finalist Linda Elriani.

"I just love being on this court," said the tour veteran who defeated Scottish qualifier Pamela Nimmo 9-1 9-1 9-1. "It is slightly dead and really rewards good shot-making," added the 34-year-old from Sussex.

Second seed Vicky Botwright was just happy to be on the court playing France's Isabelle Stoehr after suffering a tear in her foot just two weeks ago. "I was really relaxed out there," said the young Englishwoman after her 10-9, 9-6, 9-5 victory in 45 minutes.

The possibility of a first-ever WISPA World Tour meeting with her younger sister Rebecca Botwright was dashed by Ireland's eighth seed Madeline Perry, who beat the English qualifier 9-0 9-2 9-1.

The capacity crowd at Grand Central Terminal was also treated to an extraordinary display of squash and competitive desire in the two men's quarter-final matches on the four-walled glass court in Vanderbilt Hall. Karim Darwish, who eliminated top seed David Palmer in the second round, caused a second upset as he defeated England's Lee Beachill, the No8 seed, in a dramatic five game victory.

Darwish started the match on fire, jumping out to an early lead with an 11-3 first game victory. But the steadfast Englishman was not prepared to fold in the face of his opponent's desire, and secured the second game 11-9. Darwish responded by winning the third by the identical score, primarily by waiting for openings that would allow to him to deploy the trademark Egyptian attack of stylish shot making.

Beachill, who showed no ill effects from the knee surgery that he underwent just eight weeks ago, answered with an 11-5 game score in the fourth. The concluding game saw Darwish take a 6-3 lead, only to find himself facing match ball against him at 12-11 in the fifth, after having squandered two match points in his favour. It was third time lucky as Darwish put the ball just out of Beachill's reach deep in the court to win 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-10 (4-2) in 80 minutes.

When asked what he thought of his next round opponent, Darwish immediately started talking about fellow countryman Amr Shabana, as though he had already won his match - and then corrected himself to refer to Thierry or Shabana.

Darwish' slip of the tongue was prescient - or maybe just common sense - as Shabana, the reigning World Champion, has won five of the last eight tournaments he has played. Although Thierry Lincou was able to grab the second game of the match, he was not able to do much more in the face of the third seed's all around game.

"I don't think I played so badly," said former world No1 Frenchman after the 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4 loss. "Shabana was just too good tonight. He has a more complete game now and more patience. The third game was crucial. At nine all he took his chance and went for the winner."

Men's quarter-finals:
[12] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [8] Lee Beachill (ENG) 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-10 (4-2) (80m)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4 (55m)

Women's 1st round:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 9-4, 9-1, 7-9, 9-0 (40m)
[6] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Annelize Naude (NED) 9-7, 9-2, 9-0
[4] Linda Elriani (ENG) bt [Q] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-1, 9-1, 9-1 (33m)
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Alison Waters (ENG) 9-5, 9-5, 10-8 (31m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-6, 9-2, 9-2 (27m)
[3] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Fiona Geaves (ENG) 9-0, 9-2, 9-5 (20m)
[8] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 9-0, 9-2, 9-1 (26m)
[2] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 10-9, 9-6, 9-5 (45m)