RESULTS: Women's Cayman Islands Open, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
1st round (top half of draw):
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 (24m)
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Marlene West (CAY) 14-12, 11-4, 11-5 (26m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (30m)
[Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt [8] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 (72m)
England's Sarah Kippax became the only qualifier to make it through to the last eight of the Women's Cayman Islands Open after upsetting Mexico's eighth seed Samantha Teran in a marathon first round battle in the $55,300 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event – the third of the year - on Grand Cayman.
It was a see-saw encounter in which Kippax took the first game with two dying drives before Teran saved two game balls at 8-10 to draw level after a tie-break. The 26-year-old from Cheshire did the same in the third to regain the lead, but the Mexican was always marginally ahead in the fourth.
Teran, the world No12 and highest-ranked Mexican of all-time, led the decider 5-2 and 9-7 and reached match ball when a risky long drop shot from Kippax hit the tin.
But Kippax fought back to take the match into its third tie-break game – and finally clinched victory with a drop shot that Teran was unable to reach.
"It's always a tough one against Samantha," Kippax told the official website www.squashsite.co.uk/cayman after her 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10 triumph in 72 minutes.
"She's so gutsy and picks everything up. At two-one, I actually thought it was two-all, it was that tough!
"I'm really pleased: This is the best I've done in a tournament of this level so I'm delighted," added the world No21, who now faces third seed Rachael Grinham. "I need to work out my tactics against Rachael, she's a very tricky player - but for now I'll just enjoy the win."
Grinham earlier cruised to an 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 victory over Italian qualifier Manuela Manetta.
Later, in one of the first matches on an all-glass court erected at Camana Bay, Malaysia's Nicol David successfully began the defence of her title by beating New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes 11-3, 11-5, 11-3.
Hawkes, the world No15 from Auckland, was clearly not lifted by an on-court Haka which preceded the match as part of the event launch celebrations.
"When you come onto court in a setting and in front of a crowd like this, you just want to give it your best," said champion David after her win. "The Haka was fascinating. I've never seen one close up before - it was exciting and it got me going, to be honest!"
Rising French star Camille Serme disappointed the packed crowd by despatching local star Marlene West 14-12, 11-4, 11-5.
Wild card West, a former Jamaican and five-time Caribbean champion, made the world number 11 work for her win, matching her opponent point for point for most of the first game before saving three game balls.
"It's great having all the top players here, but we didn't invite you over so that you could beat our players," joked Tournament Director Dan Kneipp to Serme post-match.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [7] Camille Serme (FRA)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) v [6] Kasey Brown (AUS)
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
Official website: www.squashsite.co.uk/cayman