QUARTERS: Top seeds to meet unexpected opponents in semis

Posted on September 14, 2018July 28, 2020 by stevecubbins

Top seeds Egypt and England will meet unexpected opposition in the semi-finals after upset wins for Hong Kong over USA and France over Malaysia.

[table] QUARTER-FINALS, 9/16 PLAYOFFS DETAILED RESULTS
14.00 CC2 [1] Egypt 2-1 [7] New Zealand, 14.00 C2 Australia 3-0 Finland
14.00 CC1 [5] Hong Kong 2-1 [3] USA , 14.00 C1 India 2-0 Switzerland
18.00 CC1 [6] France 2-0 [4] Malaysia, 18.00 C1 South Africa 2-0 China
18.00 CC2 [2] England 2-1 [8] Canada, 18.00 C2 Japan 2-0 Germany

[/table]

Egypt comeback to reach the semis

Top seeds and defending champions Egypt were rocked as New Zealand’s Joelle King beat world #1 Nour El Sherbini in straight games in the opening match of their quarter-final.

With the world #2 and #3 to call on in the following matches, normal order was restored as Raneem El Welily and Nour El Tayeb both won in three to put Egypt through to the semi-finals.

“Nour started off well – but what I really liked about Joelle today was that her demeanour inside the court was amazing. She was very positive, very composed and focussed,” explained Egypt coach Amr Shabana. “Joelle is a very solid player – you can see from the results – and she deserved her win today.

“We’re lucky to also have 2, 3 and 6 in the world in the team!”

[1] EGYPT 2-1 [7] NEW ZEALAND
Nour El Sherbini 0-3 Joelle King 9-11, 9-11, 7-11 (35m)
Raneem El Welily 3-0 Amanda Landers-Murphy 11-4, 11-3, 11-2 (18m)
Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Abbie Palmer 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (14m)

Hong Kong upset USA

There was to be no comeback for third seeds USA as Hong Kong’s Annie Au and Joey Chan produced the first seeding upset of the tournament, Au beating Amanda Sobhy in five games and Chan following up with a tight four game win over Olivia Blatchford.

“There was always a chance,” said HK national coach Chris Robertson. “I don’t think we were favourites, which is why we were seeded five and they were seeded three. Today was in many ways our final. We just wanted to give one last push and Annie set the tone, she attacked. Once she won, it changed the dynamics a little bit: Joey went out there and played – and used the front of the court a little bit more than she’s done earlier in the week.

“To come here and win a medal is really beyond our expectations. Now we can go and play Egypt with absolutely zero expectation – and go on and enjoy it!”

[5] HONG KONG 2-1 [3] USA
Annie Au 3-2 Amanda Sobhy 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5 (45m)
Joey Chan 3-1 Olivia Blatchford 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11 (41m)
Ho Tze-Lok 0-2 Sabrina Sobhy 8-11, 5-11 (12m)

England ease into semis

England’s Laura Massaro had to work hard to put the second seeds into the lead against Canada, for whom Sam Cornett took the first game, and after Massaro had taken a 2-1 lead had game ball opportunities to force a decider.

Massaro took the fourth 13-11, and Alison Waters wrapped up the win with a 3-0 victory over Hollie Naughton.

[2] ENGLAND 2-1 [8] CANADA
Laura Massaro 3-1 Samantha Cornett 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (35m)
Alison Waters 3-0 Hollie Naughton 11-1, 11-6, 11-6 (24m)
Victoria Lust 0-2 Nikki Todd 6-11, 7-11 (14m)

France foil Malaysia

A second upset result came as France beat fourth seeds Malaysia. Camille Serme went into the opening match against Nicol David with a 19-2 losing record, but made it three wins in their last three meetings as she won in straight games.

Sivasangari Subramaniam looked to be putting Malaysia back on track as she took the first game, only for Coline Aumard to take the next three and clinch a semi-final spot for France.

“Today Camille played really, really, well – and maybe Coline played her best game ever,” said French coach Philippe Signoret. “I am so happy for the girls. We were seeded six and we now have a bronze medal – and maybe more!”

[6] FRANCE 2-1 [4] MALAYSIA
Camille Serme 3-0 Nicol David 11-9, 11-2, 11-5 (29m)
Coline Aumard 3-1 Sivasangari Subramaniam 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (48m)
Melissa Alves 0-2 Low Wee Wern 7-11, 8-11 (20m)