South Africa Upset Women's World Team Champions Australia

South Africa caused the headlines on the opening day's play in the Lexus of Edmonton WSF Women's World Team Championship with a 2/1 victory over title-holders Australia in the first qualifying round in Edmonton, Canada.

Despite fielding an under-strength squad - as a result of the absence of sisters Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grinham, ranked three and four in the world, respectively - Australia are seeded five, seven places higher than South Africa.

Australia were on course for their expected victory, however, when Queenslander Kasey Brown defeated South African teenager Tenille Swartz 9-5, 5-9, 9-7, 9-4 in 61 minutes. But squad No2 Claire Nitch, the 35-year-old South African who retired from the WIPSA World Tour six years ago, played a true 'captain's innings' when she defeated world No27 Melissa Martin 9-7, 10-8, 9-7 in just 25 minutes.

The 12th seeds achieved their historic victory when Johannesburg part-timer Diana Argyle fought back from 4-7 down in the third game to beat Australia's Amelia Pittock, ranked 31 in the world, 9-2, 9-3, 9-7!

"I was a bit uncertain, but when Claire won I knew I had a chance too," said Argyle later. "We're ecstatic!"

South Africa coach Richard Castle added: "It is the first time we've ever beaten Australia. A fantastic effort from the team which showed that their work this year has been worth it."

Meanwhile, favourites England coasted to a 3/0 win over ninth seeds Ireland, as Tania Bailey, Vicky Botwright and Jenny Duncalf crushed their opponents for the loss of just 12 points in little more than an hour's play.

Second seeds Egypt and third seeds Malaysia also secured 3/0 wins in their opening clashes with Spain and USA, respectively. Fourth seeds Netherlands dropped a match against Germany, however, but ultimately overcame the 13th seeds 2/1.

Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [9] IRELAND 3-0
Tania Bailey bt Aisling Blake 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (21m)
Vicky Botwright bt Laura Mylotte 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (20m)
Jenny Duncalf bt Eleanor Lapthorne 9-2, 9-2, 9-4 (28m)
[8] HONG KONG bt [16] AUSTRIA 3-0
Rebecca Chiu bt Pamela Pancis 9-0, 9-3, 9-0 (15m)
Christina Mak bt Birgit Coufal 9-0, 9-4, 9-4 (21m)
Annie Au bt Theresa Gradnitzer 9-3, 9-1, 9-1 (19m)

Pool B:
[2] EGYPT bt [15] SPAIN 3-0
Omneya Abdel Kawy bt Elisabet Sado 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (17m)
Raneem El Weleily bt Margaux Moros-Pitarch 9-0, 9-2, 9-3 (18m)
Amnah El Trabolsy bt Laura Alonso 9-6, 9-6, 9-6 (27m)
[10] FRANCE bt [7] CANADA 2-1
Isabelle Stoehr bt Runa Reta 2-9, 9-7, 9-4, 9-3 (48m)
Camille Serme bt Melanie Jans 9-5, 9-5, 5-9, 0-9, 9-2 (62m)
Soraya Renai lost to Carolyn Russell 5-9, 0-9, 9-2, 9-6, 8-10 (42m)

Pool C:
[3] MALAYSIA bt [11] USA 3-0
Nicol David bt Latasha Khan 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 (24m)
Sharon Wee bt Meredeth Quick 9-5, 9-4, 9-1 (40m)
Tricia Chuah bt Louisa Hall 9-1, 9-2, 9-5 (24m)
[6] NEW ZEALAND bt [14] JAPAN 3-0
Shelley Kitchen bt Mami Nishio 9-3, 9-2, 9-3 (29m)
Jaclyn Hawkes bt Chinatsu Matsui 9-3, 6-9, 9-0, 9-7 (48m)
Louise Crome bt Sachiko Shinta 9-0, 9-2, 9-3 (22m)

Pool D:
[4] NETHERLANDS bt [13] GERMANY 2-1
Vanessa Atkinson bt Katharina Witt 9-1, 9-5, 9-6 (23m)
Annelize Naude bt Kathrin Rohrmueller 9-1, 9-6, 9-2 (26m)
Margriet Huisman lost to Carola Weiss 9-4, 9-6, 6-9, 6-9, 8-10 (62m)
[12] SOUTH AFRICA bt [5] AUSTRALIA 2-1
Tenille Swartz lost to Kasey Brown 5-9, 9-5, 7-9, 4-9 (61m)
Claire Nitch bt Melissa Martin 9-7, 10-8, 9-7 (25m)
Diana Argyle bt Amelia Pittock 9-2, 9-3, 9-7 (37m)