Botwright Bows Out In Apawamis

England's world No5 Vicky Botwright became the biggest casualty on the opening day of the first WISPA Gold event of the year when she bowed out to veteran compatriot Fiona Geaves in the first round of the Women's Apawamis Squash Open in Rye, New York.

Fourth seed Botwright took the opening two games, but her gutsy opponent, now based in the US as a coach at the Heights Casino in New York, came back to take the next two to level the match. 

However, Botwright stumbled awkwardly on the penultimate point of the fourth game – and, after a short break to ice and stretch her heel, cautiously tried to start the fifth game.  But after a single point, the 28-year-old was forced to retire, with the score at 5-9 9-7 9-6 9-8 1-0.  It was later confirmed that Botwright has suffered a painful foot problem for the past three weeks.

Geaves, a qualifier, now takes on Natalie Grainger, the fifth seed from the USA who beat England's unseeded Alison Waters 9-4 9-3 9-5.

Unseeded Irish champion Madeline Perry caused the exit of another English seed when she came back from a game down to beat eighth seed Jenny Duncalf 4-9 9-0 9-7 9-7.

An all-Egyptian first round clash between Omneya Abdel Kawy and qualifier Engy Kheirallah saw the sixth seed squander an 8-6 lead in the fifth game.  Kheirallah, a 24-year-old from Alexandria who is ranked nine places below her compatriot, fought back to record a notable 10-8 3-9 9-1 5-9 10-8 upset.

RESULTS:        Women's Apawamis Squash Open, Rye, NY, USA

1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Annelize Naude (NED)                             9-3, 9-1, 9-6
[Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)          10-8, 3-9, 9-1, 5-9, 10-8
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Pamela Nimmo (SCO)                        9-4, 9-4, 9-7
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)                          4-9, 9-0, 9-7, 9-7
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt Alison Waters (ENG)                        9-4, 9-3, 9-5
[Q] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [4] Vicky Botwright (ENG)                    5-9, 9-7, 9-6, 9-8, 1-0 ret.
[7] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG)         9-2, 9-5, 9-1
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Latasha Khan (USA)                  9-7, 9-2, 9-6