Brit Beddoes upsets American number one Sobhy to enter Carol Weymuller quarters

Emma Beddoes (right) with Amanda Sobhy

England's unseeded Emma Beddoes denied US number one Amanda Sobhy her first ever appearance in the quarter-finals of the Carol Weymuller Open in her home town New York when she upset the No. 8 seed on the second day of first round action in the long-established WSA Gold 50 squash event at Heights Casino.

Sobhy, 21, has enjoyed a remarkable recent run on the WSA World Tour - reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open and Hong Kong Open (both World Series events) against expectations and breaking into the world top 10, all while studying full-time at Harvard University!

"Amanda is definitely playing the best squash of her life with recent big wins over top 10 players but Emma was looking very fit, focused and ready for the match," reported tournament organiser Linda Elriani.

"Emma started the match very well, with incredible movement, especially into the front and steady tight length. She really took the T away from Amanda, which is where she is deadly with her volley drops and kills. The rallies were hard fought but Emma definitely managed to keep the pressure on Amanda and force some errors. Emma won the first game 11-7."

Beddoes, the World No. 20 from Leeds, maintained the upper hand throughout and closed out the match 11-7, 12-10, 11-4.

"Obviously I'm really pleased," the triumphant 29-year-old told Elriani later. "First two games were really tight and I managed to stick in there and keep it tight, particularly at crucial times.

"I have so much respect for the fact that Amanda is at Harvard and also in the world top 10! She had a great summer and I was expecting a tough match."

A despondent Sobhy told her Twitter followers later: "You know how some players have a specific tournament where they always lose in? Well Carol Weymuller is that tournament for me #seeunextyear"

In her first Carol Weymuller quarter-final, Beddoes will face Raneem El Welily, the No. 2 seed from Egypt who was the event's champion in 2011. The 25-year-old world No. 3 from Cairo beat Mexican qualifier Samantha Teran 11-5, 11-7, 11-4.

"I've never played Raneem - she's the only player that I haven't played," added Beddoes. "I'll be expecting some nicks, but I'll be ready for them!"

There was a further upset for the Heights Casino crowd to savour when unseeded Nicolette Fernandes overcame event veteran Rachael Grinham, the No. 7 seed from Australia, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9.

Grinham, the 37-year-old former world number one from Queensland, is celebrating her 12th appearance at Heights Casino after making her debut in 1996 and claiming the trophy ten years later!

"A win against Rachael is amazing as half the time you don't know where the ball is going," said the jubilant Fernandes, the world No. 22 from Guyana. "You just have to focus on what you are trying to do. I really enjoy this tournament and I think that it shows as every time I play well."

Fernandes, who is also now looking forward to her first quarter-final appearance in the championship, will face England's Alison Waters, the third seed from London who ousted Denmark's Line Hansen 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.

"I haven't played Ali in a while," continued Fernandes. "I love to play someone I haven't played for a while - so bring it on!"

Quarter-final line-up:[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v [Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Emma Beddoes (ENG)