Manetta Strikes For Home In Liberty Bell Open

Manuela Manetta, a 23-year-old Italian seeded to win her maiden WISPA World Tour title, made a powerful start in the first round of the Women's Liberty Bell Open in Berwyn in the US state of Philadelphia.

The top seed crushed Canadian Ashley Clackson 9-1, 9-0, 9-2, and will now meet England's Lauren Siddall for a place in the semi-finals.

Siddall, the No8 seed from Yorkshire, defeated USA qualifier Kristen Lange 9-1, 9-4, 9-5.

Second seed Aisling Blake also made it safely through to the last eight, beating USA qualifier Tara Chawla 9-3, 9-1, 9-3. Blake, from Ireland, now takes on teenager Tenille Swartz, the No7 seed from South Africa who beat American Britt Hebden 9-2, 9-0, 9-1.

1st round:
[1] Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Ashley Clackson (CAN) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2
[8] Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt [Q] Kristen Lange (USA) 9-1, 9-4, 9-5
[3] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [Q] Sydney Scott (USA) 9-4, 9-3, 9-1
[6] Georgina Stoker (ENG) bt [Q] Tina Rix (ENG) 9-3, 9-7, 9-1
[5] Carolyn Russell (CAN) bt Neha Kumar (CAN) 9-2, 9-2, 4-9, 9-0
[4] Alana Miller (CAN) bt Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 9-5, 3-9, 9-5, 10-8
[7] Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Britt Hebden (USA) 9-2, 9-0, 9-1
[2] Aisling Blake (IRL) bt [Q] Tara Chawla (USA) 9-3, 9-1, 9-3