Mak Rises To The Challenge In Hong Kong

Christina Mak upset fourth seed Louise Crome in today's women's quarter-finals of the Buler Challenge Cup to set up a 'local' semi-final in Hong Kong.

Mak, the sixth seed from Hong Kong, beat the New Zealander 3-9, 9-4, 10-8, 10-9 in 48 minutes to establish a surprise clash with national team-mate Rebecca Chiu, the favourite. Chiu, the world No15, despatched Australia's Donna Urquhart 9-6, 9-0, 9-4 in just 23 minutes.

The other women's semi-final will be an all-Australian affair, with second seed Kasey Brown facing Dianne Desira, the No5 seed. Brown defeated Dutch player Orla Noom, the seventh seed, 9-3, 9-0, 9-0, while Desira ended Line Hansen's run, beating the unseeded Dane 9-7, 9-4, 9-4.

Wai Hang Wong leads local interest in the men's event. But the top seed needed exactly one hour to get the better of eighth seed Romain Tenant, beating the Frenchman 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-10 (5-3), 11-7.

Malaysia's Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan ended hopes of an all Hong Kong men's semi-final by beating local star Roger Ngan 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.

The other semi will be a shock pairing after both seeds in the bottom half of the draw were beaten. Spanish qualifier David Vidal continued his giant killing run in the event by beating Malaysia's second seed Timothy Arnold 9-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-10 (7-5), 11-2 - while unseeded South African Stephen Coppinger took out fourth-seeded New Zealander Campbell Grayson 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Wai Hang Wong (HKG) bt [8] Romain Tenant (FRA) 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-10 (5-3), 11-7 (60m)
[3] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Roger Ngan (HKG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (34m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [4] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
[Q] David Vidal (ESP) bt [2] Timothy Arnold (MAS) 9-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-10 (7-5), 11-2 (49m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 9-6, 9-0, 9-4 (23m)
[6] Christina Mak (HKG) bt [4] Louise Crome (NZL) 3-9, 9-4, 10-8, 10-9 (48m)
[5] Dianne Desira (AUS) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 9-7, 9-4, 9-4 (33m)
[2] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [7] Orla Noom (NED) 9-3, 9-0, 9-0 (24m)