Stoehr Struggles In Pyramides Opener

France's Isabelle Stoehr made it into the quarter-finals of the Women's Des Pyramides Open as expected - but the second seed was taken the full distance by qualifier Maud Duplomb, and had to fight back from two-games-to-one down before overcoming her fellow countrywoman in the opening round of the $26,000 WISPA World Tour squash event at Squash Pyramides in Le Port Marly in the French capital Paris.

Stoehr's 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 win in 57 minutes takes the world No11 from Montpellier through to a clash with Suzie Pierrepont. The fifth seed also had to fight off a compatriot - but prevailed in just 22 minutes, beating fellow Englishwoman Jenna Gates, also a qualifier, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4.

Top seed Natalie Grinham was also tested in her first round match. The newly-crowned European Individual Champion - who is still looking for her maiden Tour title since becoming a Dutch national early last year - needed four games to overcome Norwegian qualifier Lotte Eriksen 11-2, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5.

The newly-installed world number three will now face eighth seed Tenille Swartz for a place in the semi-finals. Fresh from winning her fourth successive South African national title at the weekend, Swartz despatched England's Lauren Siddall 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5.

1st round:
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) 11-2, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 (36m)
[8] Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 (43m)
[3] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Fiona Moverley (ENG) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 (38m)
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Sara El Noamany (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 (28m)
[6] Latasha Khan (USA) bt Laura Hill (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (55m)
[4] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-1, 11-3, 11-9 (27m)
[5] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt [Q] Jenna Gates (ENG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (22m)
[2] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [Q] Maud Duplomb (FRA) 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 (57m)