Singapore Open: Fitz-Gerald upbeat,Zein, Kitchen, Nitch advance

8.21.00 Singapore by Sarah Fitz-Gerald:

The first round of the Singapore Open, held at the Kallang Squash Centre, experienced three upset while the remainder of the seeded players advanced relatively comfortably to the quarter finals.

South Africa's No 2 seed, Claire Nitch was tested by rising Kiwi Louise Crome who pushed her more experienced opponent 6-9, 9-3, 10-8, 9-3 in a 34 minutes. While her countrywoman Shelley Kitchen won comfortably over qualifier Christina Mak of Hong Kong 9-4,9-0, 9-2 in 19 minutes.

The three upsets of the day were between qualifier Annelize Naude of South Africa notching up a comfortable win over Canada's Margo Green 9-4, 9-4, 9-2 in 21 minutes while Hong Kong No 1 and tournament No 8, Rebecca Chiu lost 9-0, 9-1, 0-9, 9-6 to Malaysia's Sharon Wee. The third crushing blow for no 7 seed Kuan Choy Lin from Malaysia came at the hands of Australia's Laura Keating in 31 minutes, 9-1, 9-4, 9-7.

My match against the young Egyptian qualifier, Engy Kheirallah, showed signs of her improvement in the first game playing impressive shots before succumbing to the pressure losing 9-4, 9-0, 9-0 in 17 minutes.

"As this was my first match since suffering a minor setback with my knee last month, I was pleased with my game and could feel myself grow in confidence with each rally. Tomorrow I am up against Laura Keating for the first time and I am looking forward to the harder match and testing my knee."

SINGPORE ONE RESULTS
ROUND ONE

Claire Nitch (SA) (2) defeated Louise Crome (NZ) 6-9, 9-3, 10-8, 9-3 (34 mins)
Annelize Naude (SA) defeated Margo Green (Canada) 9-4, 9-4, 9-2 (21 mins)
Vicky Botwright (Eng) (5) defeated Madeline Perry 9-4, 9-5, 9-5 (32 mins)
Shelley Kitchen (NZ) (6) defeated Christina Mak (HK) 9-4, 9-0, 9-2 (19 mins)
Sharon Wee (Mal) defeated Rebecca Chui (HK) (8) 9-0, 9-1, 0-9, 9-6 (39 mins)
Maha Zein (Egypt) (4) defeated Della Lee (Sing) 9-6, 9-3, 9-5 (28 mins)
Laura Keating (Aust) defeated Kuan Choy Lin (Mal) (7) 9-1, 9-4, 9-7 (31 mins)
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aust) (1) defeated Engy Kheirallah (Egypt) 9-4, 9-0, 9-0 (17 mins)

Fitz-Gerald breezes through opening round

Former world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, playing in her first tournament in several months after a layoff for rehabilitation of a troublesome knee, breezed through her opening round test.

In a phone call to SquashTalk, Fitz-Gerald was upbeat about the tournament, "I'm just happy to be here, feeling great, and taking it one match at a time, she reported."

Fitz-Gerald charged through her first round in seventeen minutes, giving up only four points.

• Golestan Radwan: Egypt
• Tomas Barva, Czech Republic
• David Blick, Alaska USA
• Kim Tunney: Midwest USA
• Andre Maur: Atlanta USA
• Paul Ansdell: Massachusetts USA
  

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