Matsui Joins Koreans In Yokohama Draw
Local player Chinatsu Matsui will join two Koreans in the first round of the Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open after successes in the qualifying finals of the new WISPA World Tour event in Yokohama, Japan.
Matsui defeated compatriot Sachiko Shinta 9-5 9-6 9-2 to set up a first round meeting with Canada's No7 seed Katie Patrick.
But both Koreans Eun Chan Ahn and Eun Ok Park battled for four games against Japanese opposition to earn their places in the main draw of the $15,000 event – much to the disappointment of the Cote-a-Cote Club crowd. Ahn, 19, beat Yuko Asano 9-0 7-9 9-6 9-6, while Park defeated Kozue Onizawa 9-3 5-9 9-7 9-4.
Eun Ok Park is drawn to face second seed Madeline Perry in the first round. The Irish champion is expected to face English favourite Vicky Botwright in Sunday's final.
RESULTS: Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open, Yokohama, Japan
Qualifying finals:
Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) bt Sachiko Shinta (JPN) 9-5, 9-6, 9-2 (35m)
Amanda Hopps (AUS) bt Miyuki Adachi (JPN) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 (18m)
Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt Yuko Asano (JPN) 9-0, 7-9, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)
Eun Ok Park (KOR) bt Kozue Onizawa (JPN) 9-3, 5-9, 9-7, 9-4 (39m)
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Christina Mak (HKG)
[8] Alana Miller (CAN) v Elise Ng (HKG)
[4] Sharon Wee (MAS) v [Q] Amanda Hopps (AUS)
[6] Dianne Desira (AUS) v Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
[5] Melissa Martin (AUS) v Mami Nishio (JPN)
[3] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) v [Q] Eun Chan Ahn (KOR)
[7] Katie Patrick (CAN) v [Q] Chinatsu Matsui (JPN)
[2] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [Q] Eun Ok Park (KOR)