Donna Survives Chinappa Test In Texas

Australian qualifier Donna Urquhart provided the sole upset in the first round of the Women's Texas Open when she defeated eighth seed Joshana Chinappa to claim a place in the quarter-finals of the WSA International 35 squash event at Life Time Fitness in Plano, USA.

The Brisbane-based left-hander, fighting to back to top form after foot surgery last year, battled for 43 minutes to quash Chinappa, the world No.21 from India, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8.

Former world No.13 Urquhart, currently ranked 35 in the world, will now face home hope Amanda Sobhy, the second seed.

The New York-born 21-year-old, who graduates from Harvard University in May, recovered from a game down to see off Egyptian qualifier Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy 5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8 in 42 minutes.

There was Egyptian success in the top half of the draw when top seed Nour El Tayeb quelled a spirited performance by English qualifier Victoria Lust. Underdog Lust, ranked 26 in the world, took the opening game - but Cairo-based El Tayeb, the world No.5 making her Texas Open debut, regained the upper hand before closing out the match 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.

El Tayeb's quarter-final opponent will be the winner of the clash between Emma Beddoes, the fifth seed from England, and Egyptian Heba El Torky - a match which will be completed today after being suspended at one-game-all.

Youth prevailed over experience in a first round battle which thoroughly entertained the Plano crowd. Dutch star Natalie Grinham, the 37-year-old former world No.2, took the opening game against seventh seed Nouran Gohar, the 17-year-old world No.16 from Egypt.

But the Cairo teenager soon found the edge over Grinham - playing in only her second WSA Tour event since the birth of her second child - and romped to a 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 victory in 30 minutes.