Annie Au (HKG) beat Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 in the quarter-finals of the KL Open 2012 after 76 minutes of play (photo: Steve Cubbins). 16-year-old Egyptian, Nour El Sherbini continued her giant killing run at the KL Open as she downed experienced No6 seed, Australian Rachael Grinham 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8. Sherbini will now face the other surprise semi finalist in the draw, unseeded Annie Au who beat No3 seed Laura Massaro in a 5-game thriller 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9.
The 3rd upset came in favour of Raneem El Weleily. The Egyptian 5th seed faced Madeline Perry who is seeded just one place above the 23-year-old. After a close 1st game El Weleily’s closed out the contest 13-11, 11-6, 11-2.
Top seed Nicol David was in no mood to succumb to the pattern of upsets however, as she continued her title bid in front of her home crowd, beating India’s Dipika Pallikal 11-5, 11-2, 11-6.
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Annie Au (HKG)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (25m)
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 13-11, 11-6, 11-2 (31m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 (76m)
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 (41m)
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
[Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
[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)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [7] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6 (55m)
[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)
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 (48m)
