RESULTS: Hurghada International, Hurghada, Egypt
Quarter-finals (top half of draw):
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [8] Line Hansen (DEN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (30m)
[4] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [5] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 (50m)
The packed and partisan crowd cheered on anticipated local success on the first day of quarter-final action in the Women's Hurghada International on an all-glass court sited on the Promenade in Hurghada, but French star Isabelle Stoehr almost upset the script in the $26,200 WISPA World Tour squash event in its 13th year in the Egyptian Red Sea resort.
Fifth seed Stoehr, the record 11 times French national champion from Montpellier, took a surprise two-game lead against Raneem El Weleily, the fourth seed from Alexandria.
However, the 21-year-old Egyptian breezed through the third to the increasing delight of the spectators. But, as the fourth unfolded, it seemed that an upset was on the cards as Stoehr fought through to match-ball at 10-6.
A combination of deft shots and a deceptive frame brought El Weleily level and then - to a cacophony - it was two games all!
El Weleily now had the initiative and raced to 9-4 before Stoehr recovered three points to reduce the deficit. But after 50 minutes, it was El Weleily who finally celebrated a 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 victory.
"I thought I was going back home in my head," said El Weleily when asked about the fourth game. "It has been a lot of pressure, especially being the first match and I should have played my game from the start not near the end. She is a very good player and I have never beaten her before so pressure."
Stoehr was also quizzed by the media about the squandered match balls. "I kind of stepped back when I got to match ball instead of keeping attacking," explained the 30-year-old. "In the fifth I was down physically and mentally, then I said that it is the last game and to push hard. She is a very good player and I knew it would be hard with the crowd."
The other quarter in the top half, pitching top seed Omneya Abdel Kawy against eighth seed Line Hansen, was more straightforward. Abdel Kawy, queen of the court from Cairo, did her deft stuff against an improving Dane, winning 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 in 30 minutes.
"It was nice to play here, but I was never really comfortable. I was struggling to read her," said Hansen, from Odense, afterwards.
Title-holder Abdel Kawy, a three times champion, is looking to reach her seventh successive final since making her debut in the inaugural event in 2002.
Outstanding Quarter-final line-up:
[3] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) v [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY)
[2] Camille Serme (FRA) v Nour El Sherbini (EGY)