Revenge Win Takes Home Hope Naude Into World Qualifying Finals

Annelize Naude will take Dutch interest into the qualifying finals of the Forexx Women's World Open Squash 2009 after a revenge win over Welsh opponent Deon Saffery in today's second qualifying round of the $118,000 WISPA World Tour event at Frans Otten Stadion in the Netherlands capital Amsterdam.

"I was in the zone tonight - and really out to get revenge on Deon, as she beat me last time we played," said the delighted Dutch number three after her 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 victory in just 19 minutes.

"I've just come back from Eindhoven where I won the SquashTime WISPA event - and that gave me a lot of confidence. I had so much support here tonight, it was fantastic."

Naude entertained a packed partisan crowd surrounding the three-sided-glass-wall showcourt at the Frans Otten Stadion. "This is really my court - I had a game plan tonight and stuck to it.

"It's great having this event here in Amsterdam - the organisers have done a great job in publicising it and there's been lots of coverage in the papers," added Naude, who is now just one win away from making her tenth successive appearance in the sport's premier tournament.

Egyptian teenager Nour El Sherbini continued her giant-killing run in her first WISPA tournament outside her home country by beating experienced Canadian Alana Miller. The 13-year-old world No63 from Alexandria - who became the sport's youngest ever world champion in August after winning the World Junior (U19) title - fought back from 2/1 down to beat 29-year-old Miller, ranked 35 in the world, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 in 54 minutes.

"I can't believe it. It's my first time playing a tournament outside Egypt - it's really unbelievable," gushed the promising youngster.

Miller, the three-time Canadian champion who led in all five games, said: "When I saw the draw, I initially thought I'd like to stay away from this young Egyptian. But I was looking forward to the match - I just would have like the execution of my strategy to have been better than it was. She had the better length and better short game - but I'm disappointed.

"Pressure is hard to deal with - but squash is such a small community that you're always playing lower-ranked players. I just feel I needed to be on top of my game - pressure or no pressure."

There was further surprise Egyptian success when Nour El Tayeb beat Lauren Siddall after the higher-ranked English player retired injured with the score standing at 11-7, 12-14, 11-9, 6-0 in the El Tayeb's favour.

It was a disappointing outcome for Siddall, who aggravated a groin strain she sustained during last week's British Open after slipping on the court midway through the fourth game.

El Tayeb, 16, from Cairo, was thrilled with her breakthrough victory: "It's my first time in the worlds - but a win is always special.

"She's a good player - she's bigger than me and has a good reach," added El Tayeb. "She found some great shots when I hoped she wouldn't. I was really happy with the third - I found some good flick shots and was happy to find them!"

Another teenager celebrated a stunning upset when Amanda Sobhy, a 16-year-old from the USA ranked 88 in the world, crushed Denmark's world No26 Line Hansen 11-6, 11-7, 11-4.

"It's a shock - and it'll probably be a couple of hours before it sinks in," admitted the left-hander who has only played in four WISPA tournaments previously. "I had no pressure - as well as the advantage that I had played on that court yesterday.

"I played Line once before, at the Burning River Classic in the US, and she beat me 3/0. So I knew her game and didn't have to spend the first game today getting used to her. I guess my attitude as I came on to the court today was 'I can beat her, but if I lose it's no great problem'.

"Squash is my focus - but I want to go to college, which will be in 2011."

Two Indian players will line up in the qualifying finals in a bid to reach the main draw for the first time. Joshna Chinappa, from Chennai, defeated France's Celia Allamargot 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, and later her younger compatriot Dipika Pallikal celebrated her 18th birthday in appropriate style by beating higher-ranked Australian Lisa Camilleri 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8.

"I was pleased with that as for the past two months I haven't had any good wins - and I lost 3/0 to her last year," said Pallikal, the world No54, also from Chennai.

"My coach Malcolm (Willstrop) told me yesterday to just get on court and enjoy myself. It's a great birthday present as I haven't had a good day so far - spending the day in my hotel room trying to fix my computer!"

Pallikal goes on to meet England's world No24 Sarah Kippax - the highest-ranked player in the qualifiers - for a place in the main draw. "I've never played Sarah before, but I'll just go out and enjoy it, with no pressure," concluded Pallikal.

After a premature exit in last week's British Open, Joshna Chinappa was pleased with her maiden appearance in World Open. "I played a lot better than I did at the British Open where I wasn't fully well. And you can't play squash without being fully fit. I'm now able to push myself a lot more.

"I'm based most of the time at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai, but spend as much time as I can with Malcolm Willstrop in the UK - I love working with him and the set-up there is fantastic. I worked hard to prepare for this," explained the 23-year-old.

England's 20-year-old Victoria Lust also recorded one of the best wins of her career when she beat experienced Hong Kong player Christina Mak, ranked nine places higher, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4.

"I'm really pleased - especially as it's my first worlds," said the former British Junior champion from Cheltenham. "In the first two games, my length was working really well, but in the third my length went and she started to take advantage."

Lust now meets Aisling Blake, the world No27 from Ireland. "It's great to have the chance to play Aisling - she's had some good results lately. My goal is to get into the top 40."

Donna Urquhart, the Australian who last week became the only qualifier to reach the British Open quarter-finals, returned to her winning ways with an 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2 victory over Egypt's Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy.

"It seems funny to come back to the qualifiers after my success at the British Open - but it's good to be back playing again," said the 22-year-old from New South Wales.

"She probably had nothing to lose, and was probably a bit tired after her game yesterday. My experience in the British Open makes me want to do it again."

Urquhart will take on Malaysia's Low Wee Wern in the next round. "Wee Wern and I are about equal in results - so qualifying will be difficult. But I'd like to get through to play in my first worlds," added the left-hander.

Low Wee Wern beat England's Lauren Selby 11-4, 11-7, 11-6. "She had the lead in all three games - but I just hung in there as long as I could," said the 19-year-old world No33 from Penang.

"I set myself a top 30 target for this year - and I've got three places to go in three months, so it's looking good."

2nd qualifying round:
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Leonie Holt (ENG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (21m)
Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)
Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Alexandra Norman (CAN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 (28m)
Victoria Lust (ENG) bt Christina Mak (HKG) 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4 (39m)
Latasha Khan (USA) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11-1, 11-5, 11-2 (21m)
Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
Annelize Naude (NED) bt Deon Saffery (WAL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-2 (19m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10 (49m)
Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Alana Miller (CAN) 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 (54m)
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Celia Allamargot (FRA) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (24m)
Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt Elise Ng (HKG) 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (45m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (21m)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Lauren Selby (ENG) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2 (26m)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 11-7, 12-14, 11-9, 6-0 ret. (38m)
Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Emma Chorley (ENG) 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 (39m)