Reta Survives Qualifying Marathon In Houston

Canadians Runa Reta and Alana Miller could hardly have gained qualifying slots in the Women's Texas Open at the Downtown Club in Houston, USA, in more contrasting circumstances.

Miller took just 15 minutes to brush aside Colombia's Silvia Angulo Rugeles 9-2, 9-0, 9-4 in the qualifying finals to earn a place in the main draw of the established WISPA World Tour event against second-seeded American Natalie Grainger.

Reta, however, battled for 100 minutes against Hong Kong's Christina Mak - fighting back from 1/2 down, then surviving two tie-break games before emerging the exhausted victor in a 9-3, 6-9, 4-9, 10-9, 10-8 scoreline.

The 25-year-old from Ottawa now meets Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy, the third seed.

England's Vicky Botwright is top seed in the WISPA Silver event - and meets her younger sister Rebecca Botwright for the first time on the WISPA tour.

Qualifying finals:
Runa Reta (CAN) bt Christina Mak (HKG) 9-3, 6-9, 4-9, 10-9, 10-8 (100m)
Alana Miller (CAN) bt Silvia Angulo Rugeles (COL) 9-2, 9-0, 9-4 (15m)
Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Jenna Gates (ENG) 9-7, 9-7, 9-4 (50m)
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Tara Mullins (CAN) 9-3, 10-8, 9-1 (33m)