British Open Champion Ricketts Survives US Open Challenge

In his first PSA Tour event since winning the British Open title last month in England, Australia's Anthony Ricketts had to fight back from a game down to overcome Netherlands qualifier Laurens Jan Anjema in an hour-long match on the second day of first round action in the US Open at the Murr Center at Harvard University in Boston.

Ricketts, the fourth seed from Sydney who leapt to career-high No3 in the November PSA world rankings, beat the Dutchman 6-11 11-5 11-7 11-6 and now goes on to face seventh seed Graham Ryding in a repeat of their second round meeting in the British Open.

Canadian Ryding was extended to five games by Renan Lavigne before he defeated the French qualifier 8-11 11-6 11-8 10-11 11-8 in 74 minutes.

In the women's event, England's Suzie Pierrepont made the most of her position as lucky loser on the late withdrawal of Pakistan's Carla Khan. The 20-year-old from Sussex battled for 51 minutes against Engy Kheirallah before the Egyptian claimed her 10-9 2-9 9-5 9-4 victory.

Kheirallah will now meet Australia's Natalie Grinham for a place in the semi-finals. The top seed from Queensland despatched Canadian qualifier Runa Reta 9-0 9-5 9-1 in just 30 minutes.

Men's 1st round:
[7] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 10-11 (1-3), 11-8 (74m)
[4] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (60m)
[5] John White (SCO) bt Dan Jenson (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-10 (4-2) (44m)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt Joseph Kneipp (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (38m)

Women's 1st round:
[5] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt Rebecca Botwright (ENG) 5-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-6 (39m)
[4] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-3, 9-1, 9-7 (42m)
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 10-9, 2-9, 9-5, 9-4 (51m)
[1] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Runa Reta (CAN) 9-0, 9-5, 9-1 (30m)