INDIA SQUEAK HOME
Surbhi Holds Nerve To Help Hosts Book Semis Berth Versus Hong Kong (Courtsey Times of India -e-paper + photos courtsey Squash Site)
“Something to Smile About”
Hong Kong, who beat New Zealand 3-0 in their last-eight tie, await the second-seeded hosts in the final-four, while Egypt take on the Unites States in the first semifinal on Friday. The Egyptians extended their untested run in the championship, showing the door to Malaysia rather unceremoniously, routing them 3-0, with their top-three players – Heba el Torky, Nour el Sherbini and Nour el Tayeb taking less than an hour to finish their three matches.
Meanwhile, US came from behind against England to win the quarterfinal tie 2-1. Amanda Sobhy, the US No 2, lost the first match to Kimberley Hay in three games. However, the Americans rallied back in fine style, with Olivia Blatchford and Julie Cerullo easing their way past the English players, who were looking average most of the time.
The Indians, on the other hand, started off with a stutter against the fourth-seeded Canadians.
Anwesha Reddy played the opening encounter and was matching Samantha Cornett point-for-point in the opening exchanges, with both players looking nervous.
However, Cornett was the steadier of the two and won the first game, while Anwesha took the second and was cruising 6-1 in the third before losing the range of her off-the-wall winners, while her opponent continued with her steady hitting to take the match and make it 1-0 for the Canadians.
Dipika Pallikal, the India No 1, did her part in the second match. Laura Gemmel’s elegant game was not good enough for a win but Dipika sure had to hurry her shots, especially in the opening game which she won 11-8. That was as close Gemmel would get in the match as the second and third games were easily killed off by Dipika to take the tie to the decider.
The pressure was on Surbhi Misra now as she took on Jennifer Pelletier. The wiry Canadian looked fitter and faster on court but the Indian proved looks could be deceptive. Surbhi won the opener in a tie-break and then took a 2-0 lead, winning the second game in no time. But then she lost her concentration for a brief period and that was enough for Pelletier to capture the third.
S4HU
