Kheirallah Cruises To Grainger Win In Houston

Egypt's Engy Kheirallah recorded a notable upset in the quarter-finals of the Women's Texas Open when she beat US star Natalie Grainger, the second seed, in straight games at the Downtown Club at the Met in Houston, USA.

The 24-year-old eighth seed from Alexandria despatched Grainger, a former world No1 from Washington, 9-6, 9-3, 9-6 in just 26 minutes to set up an all-Egyptian semi-final with Omneya Abdel Kawy.

The third seed from Cairo battled for 40 minutes against seventh seed Pamela Nimmo to beat the Scot 9-7, 8-10, 9-3, 9-0.

The other semi-final will reunite two stars of last month's Commonwealth Games in Australia when England's Vicky Botwright, a silver and bronze medallist in the doubles, faces New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen, a silver medallist in the women's doubles and surprise bronze medallist in the singles.

Fifth seed Kitchen, from Auckland, maintained her form in the WISPA Silver event in Houston to upset England's fourth seed Laura-Jane Lengthorn 9-5, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5 in 61 minutes.

Botwright, the event favourite from Manchester, overpowered Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu 9-0, 9-1, 9-3 in 29 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [6] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 9-0, 9-1, 9-3 (29m)
[5] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [4] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) 9-5, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5 (61m)
[3] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [7] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-7, 8-10, 9-3, 9-0 (40m)
[8] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-6, 9-3, 9-6 (26m)