Mixed Fortunes For Ireland In Alexandria

Irish international team-mates Laura Mylotte and Aisling Blake experienced mixed fortunes in the first round of the Women's Alexandria Sporting Club Open in Alexandria, Egypt.

Mylotte, a former Irish junior champion who fought through the qualifiers to earn a place in the main draw, battled from 2/1 down, then survived a tie-break in the fifth-game decider to upset England's No8 seed Kirsty McPhee 9-2, 5-9, 8-10, 9-5, 10-9.

The 31-year-old's reward is a quarter-final clash with top seed Engy Kheirallah, the highest-ranked player from Alexandria who despatched fellow Egyptian Eman El Amir 9-3, 9-1, 9-1.

Aisling Blake was also taken to five games, but the seventh seed from Dublin failed to secure her anticipated place in the last eight - going down 9-6, 0-9, 8-10, 9-6, 9-5 to Egyptian qualifier Amnah El Trabolsy, also from Alexandria.

Unseeded Czech Lucie Fialova also achieved an impressive upset, beating England's fifth seed Jenna Gates - listed 20 places higher in the WIPSA world rankings - 10-8, 3-9, 9-4, 5-9, 9-5.

1st round:
[1] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 9-3, 9-1, 9-1
[Q] Laura Mylotte (IRL) bt [8] Kirsty McPhee (ENG) 9-2, 5-9, 8-10, 9-5, 10-9
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [Q] Heba Alaa El Torky (EGY) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1
[6] Georgina Stoker (ENG) bt Margriet Huisman (NED) 9-2, 9-0, 9-3
Lucie Fialova (CZE) bt [5] Jenna Gates (ENG) 10-8, 3-9, 9-4, 5-9, 9-5
[4] Christina Mak (HKG) bt [Q] Lina El Tannir (EGY) 7-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0
[Q] Amnah El Trabolsy (EGY) bt [7] Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-6, 0-9, 8-10, 9-6, 9-5
[2] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Salma Shabana (EGY) 5-9, 9-4, 8-10, 9-2, 10-8