(23.08.2016) Both women’s and men’s top half of the opening round of Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2016 started today at Hong Kong Squash Centre. Home favourites, Yip Tsz Fung and Annie Au advanced to the second round.
Yip Tsz Fung produced the biggest upset today as sending off the seed No.3 and world no. 5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez from Columbia in five games to delight the packed crowds for reaching the round two for second consecutive time.
The 22 years old entered the main draw via the wild-card took the first at 13-11, though Rodriguez came back in the second and third at 12-10 and 11-2, Yip managed to nail a confident performance in the fourth and fifth game to secure his top 16 places at 11-3 and 11-6.
Bringing the greatest win of his career in front of the supporting crowds, Yip is very happy and surprised to outplay the seeded players. “I have worked very hard this summer so I am pleased that paid off. I hope to keep my consistence and to perform well again in the next match.” Yip will compete against Ryan Cuskelly from Australia at 4pm on Thursday.
In the meanwhile, Hong Kong women’s no.1 Annie Au defeated her fellow Liu Tsz Ling in four games at 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 and 11-6 to meet the world No.1 and first seed Nour El Sherbini from Egypt who also dispatched her compatriot at a straight in the round two at 1pm on Thursday.
Two home players, Joey Chan and Leo Au were force to stop in the round one by the No.7 seed Amanda Sobhy and Cameron Pilley, the first runner-up of 2015 in a straight respectively.
Without surprises, the top seed of the man’s draw, Mohamed Elshorbagy sailed through to the round two by defeating the British Chris Simpson at 11-8, 12-10, 7-11 and 11-8.
The other sixteen matches from the bottom half of the Men's and Women's event of the first round featuring two local interests will be held tomorrow.
Nicol David, the ten-times defending champion, will be on court meeting the qualifier Tesni Evan from Wales at 6pm. The 2012 Men’s Champion, Ramy Ashour return to scene playing Saurav Ghosal at 3pm. Hong Kong top men player Max Lee will encounter the qualifier Joe Lee at 7pm whereas the young local player Ho Tze Lok will make her appearance at 5pm facing Jenny Duncalf.
Please click here for the updated results and schedule!
