Raneem Rallies To Second Massaro Upset In Cleveland

Egypt's Raneem El Weleily pulled off the second US upset in a week over England's Laura Massaro in the first round of the Women's Burning River Classic when she beat the world No9 in five games to reach the quarter-finals of the $39,000 WISPA World Tour Silver squash event at Cleveland Racquet Club in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Raneem looked to be completely off the boil in the first two games, making a string of unforced errors including serving out and boasting the ball in to the tin on the return of serves," reported tournament organiser Nathan Dugan.

But the unseeded 21-year-old from Alexandria turned things round in the third game and went on to beat Massaro - ranked 12 places higher - 10-12, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5.

Australia's fifth seed Kasey Brown also mounted an incredible recovery to beat English qualifier Sarah Kippax. At 2/1 up in games and two points away from winning at 9-3 in the fourth, Kippax experienced a major comeback by Aussie Brown who ultimately clinched an 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6 victory to earn the chance to meet El Weleily for a place in the semi-finals.

But New Zealand qualifier Joelle King produced the shock of the event with a five-game victory over world number 13 Engy Kheirallah. After sharing the first two games, 21-year-old King raced to an early advantage in the third.

"During a rally at 8-3, Joelle was completely knocked off her feet after playing her shot and found herself seated on the floor," said Dugan. "But she was still able to get up and scramble the next shot back somehow and went on to take the game 11-6. An upset looked on the cards when Joelle extended a game four lead to 6-3, but Engy had other ideas."

Sixth Kheirallah took the fourth game to level the match - but the fast-improving Kiwi sprung back in the fifth, eventually delivering the final blow with a tight backhand drop that was too tight for the Egyptian to return, giving her a well-earned 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 victory.

1st round:
[1] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
[Q] Joelle King (NZL) bt [6] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5
[3] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Aisling Blake (IRL) 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9
[7] Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 11-7, 5-11, 11-2, 12-10
[5] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6
Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Laura Massaro (ENG) 10-12, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5
[8] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 11-9
[2] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6