Aussies Excel In KL World Open Qualifiers

The Australian representation in tomorrow's first round of the Women's KL World Open Championship in Malaysia has been boosted to five following the success of Melissa Martin, Kasey Brown and Amelia Pittock in today's qualifying finals at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

Martin, from Adelaide but now based in the USA, fought from two games down to overcome England's European Champion Rebecca Botwright 3-9 8-10 9-2 9-5 9-7 in 47 minutes - and is now paired up with compatriot and top seed Rachael Grinham in the first round.

Kasey Brown, 19, from Port Maquarie in NSW, ended the brave run of Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes, but needed 73 minutes to quash the country's only professional squash player 8-10 9-7 9-2 9-6 to earn a place in the main draw against England's tenth seed Jenny Tranfield.

Amelia Pittock, from Dromana, won an all-Australian clash against Dianne Desira, beating the 23-year-old from Victoria 9-7 9-0 9-7 to set up a first round meeting with New Zealand's 12th seed Shelley Kitchen.

England's sole survivor in the qualifiers was Dominique Lloyd-Walter, the Middlesex 23-year-old who beat compatriot Lauren Briggs 9-6 9-6 9-3 in 57 minutes and will now meet another English opponent Cassie Jackman in the first round.

Jackman, the No2 seed and World Open champion in 1999, is making her first appearance on court since withdrawing from last week's Qatar Classic suffering with breathing difficulties. The world No2 from Norfolk spent a night in hospital in Doha - undergoing various tests, all of which were negative - but now looks forward to resuming her squash career in KL.

"I feel fine and I will be playing tomorrow and beyond if I win, just as long as I continue to feel good," said Jackman.

All eyes will be on the predicted semi-final meeting between top seed Rachael Grinham and the third seed Vanessa Atkinson, the seven-times Dutch champion who beat the Australian in straight games in last week's Qatar Classic final.

Local interest in the KL World Open will be led by Nicol David, the 21-year-old from Penang who has been promoted to sixth seed following the last-minute withdrawal of USA's fourth seed Natalie Grainger. Twice a winner of the Women's World Junior title, David has yet to claim the senior title - but is currently enjoying the best form of her career and would relish the chance to claim the KL world trophy on home soil!

Qualifying finals:
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-7, 9-3, 9-2 (35m)
Melissa Martin (AUS) bt Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 3-9, 8-10, 9-2, 9-5, 9-7 (47m)
Amelia Pittock (AUS) bt Dianne Desira (AUS) 9-7, 9-0, 9-7 (46m)
Runa Reta (CAN) bt Heidi Mather (AUS) 9-5, 9-5, 9-4 (31m)
Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 8-10, 9-7, 9-2, 9-6 (73m)
Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) bt Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 9-5, 9-3, 9-6 (31m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-6, 9-6, 9-3 (57m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 9-0, 6-9, 9-7, 9-2 (43m)