Fernandes Falls To Chinappa In Dayton Upset

India's Joshna Chinappa caused the only upset on the opening day's play in the women's event in the EBS Dayton Open when she despatched Guyana's sixth seed Nicolette Fernandes in four games in Dayton, Ohio, in the USA.

The 20-year-old from Chennai won the match 7-9, 9-5, 9-2, 10-8 to reach a surprise quarter-final against Rebecca Botwright, the fourth seed from England who beat fellow countrywoman Georgina Stoker, a qualifier, 9-7, 9-5, 9-4.

The top two seeds kept on course to meet in the final after comprehensive victories in the first round. Egyptian favourite Omneya Abdel Kawy beat Aisling Blake, from Ireland, 9-4, 9-1, 9-4, while New Zealander Shelley Kitchen crushed South African qualifier Tenille Swartz 9-2, 9-0, 9-1.

Women's 1st round:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-4, 9-1, 9-4
[7] Latasha Khan (USA) bt Amelia Pittock (AUS) 6-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-3
[4] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 9-7, 9-5, 9-4
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [6] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 7-9, 9-5, 9-2, 10-8
[5] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt [Q] Carolyn Russell (CAN) 9-1, 9-0, 10-8
[3] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [Q] Alana Miller (CAN) 9-0, 9-6, 9-6
[8] Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-3, 3-9, 9-10, 9-3, 9-1
[2] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [Q] Tenille Swartz (RSA) 9-2, 9-0, 9-1