Adderley Topples Title-Holder To Gatecrash NZ Open Quarters

Defending champion Nele Gilis-Coll crashed out of the New Zealand Open in dramatic fashion as Scottish world No.23 Georgia Adderley put in a career-best performance on day two of the PSA Squash Tour Silver event in the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch.

Adderley went into the match having never taken a game off Gilis-Coll, with the Belgian world No.10 winning all three of their previous meetings in straight games.

The Scotland No.1 didn't let the record affect her, though, with the 24-year-old looking relaxed on court as she took a surprise lead with an 11-7 game one win.

Adderley proved this was no fluke as she came charging out in game two to storm into 9-4 lead.

No.4 seed Gilis-Coll showed her mental strength to dig in, rattling off five consecutive points to take the scores to 9-9.

Just when momentum seemed to be swinging away from Adderley, the 24-year-old managed to stop the flow of points and earned game ball at 10-9. Gilis-Coll saved game ball, and three more, before Adderley finally converted at 14-13 to eke out a 2/0 lead.

With the wind now in her sails, Adderley pressed on, overturning a narrow Gilis-Coll lead in game three to wrap up a shocking straight-game victory.

Adderley will play Japanese No.6 seed Satomi Watanabe in the quarter-final after the world No.11 came from behind to beat Hong Kong No.1 Tomato Ho.

"For sure [it's the biggest result of my career]" Adderley said afterwards. "I mean, she's top 10 in the world and I don't think I've ever beaten a top 20 player, certainly not in the PSA. So yeah, big result. Pretty happy!"

Gilis-Coll was not the only seed to fall today, with France's Auguste Dussourd fighting back from a game down to put Scottish No.4 seed Greg Lobban to the sword.

Everything seemed to be going to plan for Lobban - who was looking to avenge a loss to Dussourd at this season's Qatar Classic - when the Scottish No.1 cruised through the first game 11-4, only for Dussourd to flip the match on its head with hard fought 16-14, 11-8, 11-9 wins.

"Today, when I got into the court, I said I wouldn't focus on the result, whether I win or lose at the end. Today, it's the performance that matters, not the result," Dussourd said.

Dussourd will play compatriot Baptiste Masotti in the last eight after the No.6 seed recovered from a slow start to overcome Egypt's Yahya Elnawasany.