1:35 am
14 Nov 2024

Stoehr Stuns Second Seed In Singapore Upset

31 Jul 2008

Unseeded French champion Isabelle Stoehr pulled off a sensational upset in the first round of the Women's CIMB Singapore Masters by beating second seed Natalie Grinham to claim an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event in its second year at the Kallang Squash Centre in Singapore.

Australian-born Grinham, the world No2 now representing the Netherlands, took the first game before Stoehr stormed back to take the next two. However, Grinham valiantly played through an injured ankle and drew level - but the 29-year-old from Montpellier maintained her focus to clinch a stunning 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 13-11 victory.

It was Stoehr's second successive win over Grinham after the former Australian retired injured during their quarter-final meeting in the British Open in May.

Stoehr now faces Omneya Abdel Kawy after the seventh-seeded Egyptian made short work of Lauren Briggs from England, winning 11-1, 11-7, 11-3.

Natalie's sister Rachael Grinham had a distinctly better evening on the court. The world champion from Australia eased past Canadian qualifier Alana Miller 11-2, 11-6, 11-6.

But there were two further upsets when England's fourth seed Tania Bailey and sixth-seeded New Zealander Shelley Kitchen fell at the first hurdle.

Bailey, in only her second tournament since a four-month layoff following knee surgery, took the opening game against Rebecca Chiu. But the unseeded 29-year-old from Hong Kong struck back to win 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8.

Aucklander Kitchen was looking for her third successive Tour win over Madeline Perry. But the unseeded Irish champion, also returning to full fitness after an injury layoff, stormed to a 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 victory to set up a quarter-final clash with fellow non-seed Rebecca Chiu.

The much anticipated game of the night was between Malaysia's world number one Nicol David and unseeded Engy Kheirallah. The Egyptian put up a good fight but was unable to match David's fierce stamina as the event favourite waltzed to a 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3 win - and her 31st successive Tour match victory.

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Orla Noom (NED) 11-7, 12-10, 11-3
Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [6] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5
[8] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Alana Miller (CAN) 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 11-1, 11-7, 11-3
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (NED) 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 13-11