Cornett Lifts Home Hopes in Toronto

Hopes of home success in the Women's Granite Open in Canada were lifted when wild card Samantha Cornett pulled off a shock five-game victory over Hong Kong's higher-ranked Joey Chan in the opening round of the WSA World Tour Silver 25 squash event at Granite Club in Toronto.

The Canadian champion was making her third successive appearance in the event and, after taking the opening game, dropped the next two as seventh seed Chan, the world No24, used her experience to advance.

But 23-year-old Cornett, from Ottawa, dug deep to regain the advantage before closing out the match 11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4.

"The highlight of the night for our Granite crowd was home-club hero Sam Cornett's upset win over Joey," said tournament organiser Jessica DiMauro. "The match was a battle all the way through and we're all so lucky and happy to have witnessed this win. Joey moves so well and Sam had to be ultra-patient to find an opening. Thanks for a great match girls. We all really enjoyed it."

World No38 Cornett now takes on US star Amanda Sobhy for a place in the semi-finals. Fourth seed Sobhy, the 20-year-old world No17 from New York, defeated Egyptian qualifier Heba El Torky 11-3, 11-4, 11-7.

"Happy to win 3-0 today against @HebaElTorky," tweeted Harvard student Sobhy later. "We were rockin the different shades of pink tonight!"

England's Sarah-Jane Perry successfully began the defence of her title with a straight games win over top-ranked Japanese opponent Misaki Kobayashi.

"Misaki, as always, was moving terrifically - but SJ had her all over the court with her great holds and great space," commented DiMauro. "It's nice to see our Granite Open reigning champ playing so well."

The third seed's 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 win takes Perry through to a quarter-final clash with fellow countrywoman Sarah Kippax - the pair's first meeting since contesting the event's semi-finals last year.

No8 seed Kippax despatched 16-year-old Egyptian qualifier Nouran Ahmed Gohar 11-4, 11-9, 11-3.

"Sarah Kippax played an amazing, consistent match, dominating the young Egyptian," reported DiMauro. "Sadly, not enough people got to see that match as we had to put it on the second court to fit all the matches in tonight. But we are certainly looking forward to watching Sarah play on Wednesday."

Welsh qualifier Tesni Evans also earned a surprise quarter-final berth at the expense of injured Australian Donna Urquhart.

"Donna has been struggling with a pulled calf this week and couldn't make it through the match, retiring when down 2/1," explained Di Mauro.

The 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 (ret.) scoreline takes Evans through to meet former world number one Rachael Grinham, the No2 seed from Australia who beat Ireland's Aisling Blake 11-5, 11-4, 13-11.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [5] Line Hansen (DEN)
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [8] Sarah Kippax (ENG)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [WC] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL)