Home Heroes Blatchford & Sobhy Set Up Windy City Showdown

America's top two players Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Blatchford, ranked 6 and 26, respectively, in the world, will go head to head in the second round of the 2017 Windy City Open, presented by Guggenheim Partners and Equitrust Life Insurance, after prevailing in their first round encounters at the University Club of Chicago.

Blatchford, the event's 5ft 0in wildcard, recorded one of the biggest wins of her career when she downed India's world No.14 Joshna Chinappa 3/0 to reach the second round of a PSA World Series event for the first time in her career.

The 24-year-old underdog twice saved game ball in the first to take it 13-11 - and from then on played without pressure, controlling the court to secure a highly impressive 13-11, 11-4, 11-5 victory.

"That's a massive win for me - especially as I came into this tournament as the wildcard," said Blatchford.

"It's a huge confident boost. She's a top 15 player, so to come in and win in three is a fantastic feeling and to be in the second round, and have another chance to play on the glass court at this stage, can only bode well for me in the future.

"The first game was huge. I think had I lost that one then the match would have been a completely different story. I don't think I played well in the first game but I managed to stick in there and get through it and that allowed me to go into the second very positive."

Meanwhile Sobhy, a quarter-finalist here last year, took just 20 minutes to defeat Belgium's world No.35 Nele Gilis in a comprehensive 11-5, 11-3, 11-1 win that saw her drop just nine points en-route to victory.

The 23-year-old stuttered on her last outing at the Tournament of Champions in New York, when a partially-torn fascia on the bottom of her right foot contributed to a disappointing second round exit, but she looked to have put at least some of her injury worries to bed as she dominated proceedings against Gilis.

"I'm very happy with the win today," said Sobhy. "I had, and have, no expectations coming into this tournament, I just wanted to play at least semi pain-free because my foot is doing a lot better.

"So I just told myself to enjoy it and have fun and that's what I did and I'm happy I took it 3/0 and conserved as much energy as possible.

"To be playing Olivia in the next round is super exciting," added Sobhy.

"I was pumped for her when she won today and I think she's playing well at the minute and could give a lot of players a run for their money - it's a little annoying that it has to be me who plays her next round.

"We haven't played for a while and the pressure will be on me because I'm the higher-ranked, but it's just awesome to have two Americans at this stage in a World Series event - hopefully this is a trend that will continue in the future."

Defending women's champion Raneem El Welily and England's former world No.1 Laura Massaro were other notable winners - while in the men's draw Hong Kong's Leo Au pulled off the shock of the day as he won a superb five-game thriller against Egyptian Tarek Momen, the world No.8.

Overcoming 25 places on the world rankings, qualifier Au matched Momen throughout the encounter, with his lob and drop style of play frustrating the Egyptian and tempting him into hitting winners from all angles - subsequently making too many errors and allowing Au to take advantage.

"I think I had an easy run in qualification when Raphael (Kandra) withdrew injured and that allowed me to save some energy and focus on this match today - and I just wanted to play my best out there," said Au.

"In the first game he started very well and was very sharp and focused but I just tried to get back to my game.

"Then when it got close in the last game, I really wanted to win it. I just tried to focus on each point and doing what I had to do to win each one.

"I'm excited to come back for the second round now and give it my best shot."

Momen's compatriot Omar Mosaad, the 2016 World Championship runner-up, also crashed out at the first hurdle as he fell victim to a masterclass performance from James Willstrop.

The 33-year-old Englishman rolled back the years as he made light of the two-place difference between them on the world rankings, living up to his 'Marksman' moniker to slot home winner after winner, striking cleanly and precisely, leaving 8th seed Mosaad powerless to defend.

"I had to be very focused because Omar is a very tough first round draw so I was ready for him," said Willstrop.

"If felt like everything was coming off out there. Sometimes it works like that. I'm feeling good and striking the ball well so I can't be anything but happy with that.

"I'm not getting ahead of myself though. I just try and go day and day, recover and train well. I've enjoyed coming here over the years - it's a very enclosed and intimate venue."