Habiba Makes Hong Kong Semis
28 May 2015
Egyptian teenager Habiba Mohamed unseated an opponent more than twice her age to secure a shock place in the semi-finals of the Women's HKFC International 25, the WSA International 25 squash event at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
The 15-year-old from Alexandria, the youngest player in the world top 30, despatched second seed Rachael Grinham, the former world No.1 from Australia, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 in 32 minutes.
Grinham, the 38-year-old runner-up of the 2014 event, won the first of her 34 WSA World Tour titles more than a year before Mohamed was born!
"I played Rachael last year and lost 3/1 so this was my second time to play with her," said the Egyptian youngster later. "I really stayed focused and concentrated as I wanted to win this match.
"I really enjoyed playing Rachael and learnt a lot from her. I told myself to stay relaxed and to just enjoy the game - which I did."
Mohamed will now face another Tour veteran Jenny Duncalf. The No.3 seed from England, aged 32, defeated Dutch champion Milou van der Heijden 11-8, 11-6, 11-8.
Top seed Annie Au survived a 42-minute battle with Hong Kong compatriot Joey Chan to reach the semis for the first time. The world No.11 beat Chan, ranked 16 places lower, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9.
Au will face Asian rival Joshana Chinappa, the fourth seed from India who overcame Malaysian Delia Arnold 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) v [4] Joshana Chinappa (IND)
[6] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) v [3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) bt [5] Joey Chan (HKG) 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9 (42m)
[4] Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [7] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (30m)
[6] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 (32m)