Briggs & Botwright Boost British Hopes In Belfast World Open

Lauren Briggs and Rebecca Botwright survived marathon encounters in today's qualifying finals of the Women's World Open Championship in Belfast to boost British representation in the biggest ever squash event to be staged in Northern Ireland.

After qualifying finals and first round matches tomorrow at the Belfast Boat Club, action in the richest WISPA World Tour event of all-time moves onto a state-of-the-art four glass-walled court in the auditorium of the city's world-renowned Ulster Hall.

Lauren Briggs, the world No22 from Essex, came back from 2/1 down in games, and five points behind in the fourth game against Canada's Runa Reta, to forge a 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 9-6, 9-0 victory in 74 minutes.

"Even when I was 5-0 down in the fourth game, I was confident that I could rally it out and win the match," said a delighted 27-year-old from Chingford, in east London. "I never counted myself out."

Briggs is combining a successful life on the WISPA Tour - which includes two titles to her credit this year - with a three-days-a-week coaching role at London's prestigious RAC Club in Pall Mall.

"I haven't even looked to see who I might get tomorrow - but I'll take it as it comes, and will do my best to carry on my winning run," concluded Briggs, now in her second successive World Open.

Rebecca Botwright will join her older sister, fifth seed Vicky Botwright, in the main draw after recovering from 2/1 down to beat regular training partner Sarah Kippax 9-7, 3-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-5 in 68 minutes.

"We always have close matches - we have quite similar games, I think," said Botwright junior after her lengthy battle.

"I was 6-2 up in one game, and let her get back to six-all - I kept asking myself why I had let her back," explained the 24-year-old from Manchester.

"But it's a great achievement to get into the main draw of the World Open for the second time - even though I felt I could have played better than I did.

"Having Vicky in my corner between games is really good - she's always full of confidence for me. It's good to have someone that's there for you 100%."

South African Tenille Swartz became the first player outside the world's top 100 to book a place in the main draw of the World Open in recent memory when she edged out Latasha Khan, the seven-times US national champion, in a major qualifying upset.

The 19-year-old from Parys made her WISPA debut only last month - and earlier this month, in her second outing, won the Meersquash Open in the Netherlands, where she is now based.

After taking the opening game, Swartz slipped behind as the experienced Khan - ranked more than a hundred places higher - moved 2/1 ahead. But the youngster fought back to claim her historic 9-3, 3-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-1 win in 49 minutes.

Qualifying finals:
Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt Runa Reta (CAN) 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 9-6, 9-0 (74m)
Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-7, 3-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-5 (68m)
Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt Carolyn Russell (CAN) 9-6, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0 (62m)
Amelia Pittock (AUS) bt Christina Mak (HKG) 9-3, 9-0, 9-6 (40m)
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Tricia Chuah (MAS) 5-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-0 (35m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Georgina Stoker (ENG) 9-4, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0 (40m)
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Margriet Huisman (NED) 9-1, 9-0, 9-6 (29m)
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 9-3, 3-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-1 (49m)