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Botwright tests Joyce. Nicol David falls.
by Howard Harding Oct 15, 2001 © 2001 Squashtalk
[last update wa s 18-oct-01 ]

2001 SquashTalk coverage will feature regular updates from squash journalist Elspeth Burnside.

Womens World Draw

Women's World Second Round

TOP SEED TESTED BY 'LANCASHIRE HOT BOT' IN MELBOURNE WORLD OPEN
New Zealand's top seed Leilani Joyce was severely tested by 13th seed Vicky Botwright in today's (Monday) second round of the Women's World Open Squash Championship in Melbourne, Australia, before battling to a 7-9 10-8 9-2 9-0 victory in 46 minutes to earn a place in the quarter-finals.

Botwright, from Manchester in England, has risen to No16 in the world since making a name for herself for being banned from wearing a thong at last June's British Open, where she was dubbed the 'Lancashire Hot Bot'. "Leilani appeared to underestimate her opponent," said a tournament spokesman. "She hit too many tins, and Vicky came close to winning the second game."

Joyce next meets another English opponent Fiona Geaves, who ended Australian Natalie Grinham's run with a 9-4 1-9 9-2 9-2 victory in 39 minutes. Natalie's older sister Rachael Grinham, the 8th seed, also bowed out at the second round stage, beaten by England's former world champion and 11th seed Cassie Campion 9-4 9-2 9-1 in 25 minutes in the only seeding upset of the day.

In the first of what could be two 'world champion challenges' in the 2001 World Open, 1999 champion Campion takes on the defending champion Carol Owens in the last eight - in their first meeting since the English player's return to the circuit after back surgery almost a year ago. Melbourne-born Owens, the No2 seed playing in her first tournament under New Zealand colours, was too strong for England's Rebecca Macree, winning 9-0 9-0 9-3 in just 20 minutes.

Local favourite at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre is Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the new world No1 who is attempting to win a record-equalling fourth world title in front of a home crowd. The third seed needed just 20 minutes to overcome Dutch champion Vanessa Atkinson 9-4 9-4 9-0, and now goes on to face England's 7th seed Suzanne Horner, the 38-year-old world No8 who clinched her second successive World Masters Over-35 title on the eve of the World Open. Horner survived the longest second round clash, beating Scotland's Pamela Nimmo 9-2 3-9 9-6 9-4 in 50 minutes to end the brave run of the 24-year-old from Edinburgh who is fighting back to full fitness after suffering from 'deep vein thrombosis' (DVT).

England's Stephanie Brind moved into the last eight after coming from 5/2 down in the first set, then 7/4 in the third, to overcome talented New Zealander Shelley Kitchen 9/7 9/2 10/8. Brind's compatriot Linda Charman-Smith, the 4th seed, took out one of the tour's most exciting young players, 18-year-old Malaysian and double world junior champion Nicol David in just 18 minutes, the shortest match of the day.