Nour El Sherbini's 1sr round win in Kuala Lumpur guarantees the teenager a new highest ranking place in the forthcoming April WSA World Rankings (photo: Steve Cubbins). 3 seeds are on their way home, but a teenage qualifier claims the biggest scalp in round 1 of the CIMB Nicol David KL Open 2012.
In the best victory of her career, 16-year-old Egyptian qualifier Nour El Sherbini got the better of world No2 Jenny Duncalf in 5 games (12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9). Another qualifier, Dipika Pallikal of India, downed No8 seed Kasey Brown of Australia in straight games 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.
Natalie Grinham, seeded No7, got beaten by unseeded Annie Au of Hong Kong in a 4-game battle 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6.
Further 1st round results:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-1, 1-11, 12-10 (53m)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (31m)
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 (88m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
