WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's Hurghada Squash International, Hurghada, Egypt

1st round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-5, 9-3, 9-1 (33m)
[6] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt Melissa Martin (AUS) 9-7, 9-4, 5-9, 9-7 (33m)
[4] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt [Q] Olga Puigdemont Sola (ESP) 9-5, 9-3, 9-7 (31m)
Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt [8] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 10-8, 2-9, 9-7, 9-2 (61m)

Botwright Bursts Into Hurghada Quarters

England's unseeded Rebecca Botwright disappointed the local crowd on the opening day of the Women's Hurghada Squash International in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada when she upset eighth seed Engy Kheirallah, from Alexandria, in four games.

After several years of play on a small island adjacent to the Marriott Hotel, the building of a new promenade lined with shops became the exciting new venue for the 2005 Hurghada International.  The full stands were treated to local dancing and a parade of all the players before play started with the first match between Botwright and Kheirallah, the 23-year-old world No28.  It was no surprise that the Egyptian received the lion's share of support from the large banks of local spectators who were spread amongst the numerous tourists also viewing.

Botwright, also 23, from Manchester, fought back from 6-8 down in the first game to draw level - then disappointed the partisan crowd by taking the game.  Eleven minutes later, the home supporters were happier when Kheirallah pulled back the deficit after a game in which she constructed winning positions better and nailed the final shots.

Roles were reversed in the third as Botwright moved ahead 7-3, but the Egyptian drew level before giving away two strokes from which Botwright secured the game.  Kheirallah failed to win any of the last nine rallies in the fourth game as her opponent prevailed 10-8 2-9 9-7 9-2 in 61 minutes.

Having avenged a loss by the same 3/1 scoreline at last year's Malaysian Open, Botwright was understandably elated:  "I am really pleased," she purred. "I'm trying to be more patient and not go in too short as I did at the end of the third.  But I calmed myself down and pulled it round."

Botwright will now face her Lancashire county team-mate Laura-Jane Lengthorn for a place in the last four.  The fourth seed despatched Spanish qualifier Olga Puigdemont Sola 9-5 9-3 9-7 in 31 minutes.

Australia's world No1 Rachael Grinham, the defending champion, brushed aside qualifier Manuela Manetta 9-5 9-3 9-1 in 33 minutes.  The 21-year-old Italian may have tinned a little too often, but played well as she went down in straight games.  "I was happy with my performance.  I was nervous in the qualifying but getting here has given me a great experience," said Manetta afterwards.

Grinham will now face England's sixth seed Stephanie Brind in the quarter-finals.  In windy conditions, Brind used the lob to significant effect against unseeded Melissa Martin - until the Australian began to deal with the drifting ball more comfortably with a range of counters and cross court drops.  She had recently moved back to Australia from the coaching role in the USA that she shared with husband Brett Martin, the former international, but had travelled to Egypt to try her luck in the event.

Brind clinched a 9-7 9-4 5-9 9-7 win in 33 minutes, however, to set up her second meeting with Grinham this year.