Mixed Fortunes For World Open Heroines In Monte Carlo

Samantha Teran and Nicolette Fernandes, two emerging WISPA World Tour talents from the Americas, suffered mixed fortunes in the highly-competitive qualifying finals for the Women's Monte Carlo Classic in Monaco.

Both players - Teran from Mexico, and Fernandes the first and only squash player ever to come out of Guyana - shocked the squash world last month by reaching the last sixteen of the World Open Championship in Belfast for the first time, as qualifiers!

Bidding for a place in the first round of the established $31,000 WISPA event in its 11th year, Samantha Teran upset England's higher-ranked Rebecca Botwright 4-9, 9-3, 9-7, 9-0 in 53 minutes. The 25-year-old from Mexico City has been drawn to meet Australia's second seed Natalie Grinham, the runner-up in Belfast, in the first round.

"Before I came on this trip, my goal was to qualify for the World Open and at Monte Carlo so I am pleased," said Teran. "It has been the first time I have been so far from home for so long."

Fernandes twice led against Manuela Manetta, but it was the Italian who ultimately prevailed 6-9, 9-1, 6-9, 10-9, 9-4 in this 95-minute marathon.

At 9-8 in the fourth game, Fernandes served for the match - but the Italian saved with a great length before going on to level the match with a short forehand volley drop that rolled.

"Manuela played really well and she forced me onto the defensive," said the 23-year-old who is now based in Harrogate in England. "I could only win a couple of rallies at a time, not a flow of points. At key stages of the game I made silly errors and it is really disappointing to end the year on a low note. But that's a career in squash for you!"

Manetta moves on to face France's No8 seed Isabelle Stoehr, while fellow qualifiers Runa Reta (Canada) and Sarah Kippax (England) line up against Ireland's No3 seed Madeline Perry and seventh seed Annelize Naude, from the Netherlands, respectively.

Vanessa Atkinson is seeded to retain the title she won for the first time last year. The 30-year-old former world number one from The Hague will be looking to make up for disappointments in four successive WISPA World Tour events since winning the Tournament of Champions in March. Atkinson faces England's Dominique Lloyd-Walter in the opening round - a repeat of their first round clash in Belfast - and is expected to meet Natalie Grinham in the final.

Qualifying finals:
Runa Reta (CAN) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 5-9, 9-7, 9-7, 7-9, 9-0 (83m)
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 3-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-7 (42m)
Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 6-9, 9-1, 6-9, 10-9, 9-4 (95m)
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 4-9, 9-3, 9-7, 9-0 (53m)