National City Burning River Classic

WISPA stops in Cleveland

Joelle King defeated Amanda Sobhy (photo:©2007 Ham Biggar)

The second annual National City Burning River Classic is underway at the Cleveland Racquet Club. The qualies gave a young American a chance to shine, and the main draw will likely give the top American the same.

Fourteen-year-old Amanda Sobhy has had immense success at the junior level in the last year, winning the Girls' Under 15 crown at the US Junior Open in December. On Monday she played World No. 81, Sarah Parsons of Canada. Sobhy won the first two games, dropped the third and fourth, and relinquished a 4-love lead in the fifth, before showing determination and confidence beyond her years and retaking control of the game to get the win.  

"Sobhy played really well," said tournament director Nathan Dugan. "Once she gets a little bit fitter, she will be beating lots of people, as she will be able to sustain the pace better."

In the second round of the qualifiers, Sobhy had her hands full with another young player, nineteen-year-old Joelle King of New Zealand. King allowed Sobhy just four points in three games.

"King will without a doubt be a top-30 player at some point," Dugan said. "She is an incredible athlete and hits the ball very well."

Eman el Amir knocked out Imelda Salazar (photo:©2007 Ham Biggar)

 

England's Kirsty Mcphee joins King as the other qualifier to make it to the main draw. Mcphee will play compatriot Lauren Briggs while King will play Seattle's Latasha Khan.

Natalie Grainger won inaugural the Burning River Classic, and is seeded to do the same this year. France's Isabelle Stoehr made it to the final last year, and with her No. 3 seeding in the bottom half of the draw, could again meet Grainger in the last match.

Prize money increased by $7,000 this year, thanks in part to the success of last year's event. In 2007, the WISPA athletes all had a lot of interaction with the families from the club. Ireland's Laura Mylotte went to the school of the girl whose family she was staying with and did a presentation about St. Patrick's Day. It was things like that which resulted in club members wanting the event back.

This year the players will give clinics to City Squash kids, who will be in Cleveland to play a group of juniors from the Cleveland Racquet Club, play in a Pro Am, and work with juniors and women from the Club.

Dugan views this year as a stepping stone for the event. He hopes to see the Burning River Classicincrease to a 35-40k prize fund next year.

BURNING RIVER CLASSIC RESULTS
QUALIFYING FINAL
Kirsty McPhee (ENG) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 2-9, 9-6, 9-6, 10-8
Joelle King (NZL) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 9-1, 9-0, 9-3

1st qualifying round:|
Kirsty McPhee (ENG) bt Amy Smedira (USA) 9-0, 9-2, 9-1
Eman El Amir (EGY) bt Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) 9-4, 9-2, 9-1
Joelle King (NZL) bt Pia Trikha (USA) 9-0, 9-1, 9-0
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Sarah Parsons (CAN) 9-6, 9-6, 6-9, 5-9, 9-5

 

 

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