17-Dec, Round Two, Top:

[6] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) 3-1 [14] Camille Serme (Fra)
         12/10, 11/6, 8/11, 11/8 (58m)

[4] Alison Waters (Eng) 3-0 [15] Samantha Teran (Mex)
          11/5, 12/10, 11/3 (29m)

[10] Madeline Perry (Irl) 3-0 [8] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 
         11/2, 11/9, 11/9 (37m)

[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 [9] Annie Au (Hkg)
           11/3, 11/2, 11/3 (25m)

[6] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) 3-1 [14] Camille Serme (Fra)
            12/10, 11/6, 8/11, 11/8 (58m)

Duncalf first through to quarters

Jenny Duncalf became the first player to win through to the Cayman World OPen quarter-finals after a tough four-game win over Camille Serme, the recent Hong Kong Open finalist currently ranked just two places behind the English sixth seed.

Duncalf made the better start in the hot, humid conditions, but an early 4-1 lead was soon pegged back by Serme. The rallies were generally patient as Duncalf edged out again to 9-5, but was again pegged back to 9-all and a tin gave Serme game ball.

Three points in a row gave Duncalf the lead 12/10, and a quick 8/1 advantage in the second was too much for Serme to peg back as Duncalf took the second 11/6.

The Frenchwoman held a slender lead throughout a close third game, pulling one back 11/8, but from 4-all in the fourth Duncalf surged ahead , helped by some French errors, to 8-4. Although Serme once again pulled back to 8-all, as in the first the final points were Duncalf’s as she made Serme stretch into the four corners, taking the match 11/8 with a pair of well worked rallies ending in winning dropshots.

“It was a bit patchy but I played well enough to win,” said Duncalf, runner-up here last year. “Camille’s been playing well so to get her in the second round was tough, she always makes you work hard, but I feel like I’m playing at the moment better than I have for most of the year .

“I’m pleased to be back here, pleased to get through, and pleased to have a rest day now!” 

[4] Alison Waters (Eng) 3-0 [15] Samantha Teran (Mex)
          11/5, 12/10, 11/3 (29m)

Waters doubles up for England

Alison Waters made it an English double as she powered past Samantha Teran in straight games in just under half an hour.

Waters was in control for most of the first, moving her opponent around well with accurate drives and volleys, and continued to do so as she pulled ahead 8-5 from a level opening to the second. Teran’s a determined character though, and she harried and chased her way to game ball at 10-9. Like Duncalf before her, Waters resisted the challenge, doubling her advantage with three winners for 12-10.

The Englishwoman was well in control in the third, her shots proving too accurate as she quickly sealed the win 11/3.

“Sam’s a tough character, and she came back at me well in the second,” said Waters. “Thankfully I managed to see that one out which was crucial as on this court I knew that at one-all it could become a real battle.

“Taking the second decided the match really, so it’s good to get through in fairly quick time.”

[10] Madeline Perry (Irl) 3-0 [8] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 
           11/2, 11/9, 11/9 (37m)

Perry powers past Sherbini

Ireland’s Madeline Perry got off to a storming start against Nour El Sherbini, the Irishwoman totally dominating the first hals of the match as the world junior champion struggled to get a foothold in the match.

Perry was quickly up 7-0, converted it 11-2, and she was just as quickly 7-1 up in the second. The young Egyptian was getting frustrated at not being able to make an impact, but she started getting into the match, and drew level at 9-all only to see Perry reach gameball  with an Egyptian-style flick, followed by a Sherbini tin for 11-9 and two games to nil.

Sherbini was into the match now, and led by a point or two for most of the third game . Again though it was the Brit who would take three points to clinch the game as Perry levelled at 9-all with a stroke, forced another tin for match ball and another stroke for a place in the quarter-finals.

“When we played in the British Open the court was really cold, I knew these conditions would suit me more but I didn’t expect to get a start like that,” said Perry. “At 7/0 I had to try to keep my concentration as I knew she’d be coming back into it.

“I’m really pleased to get through here, my form has been a bit up and down but this is the world open and I really like coming here, so I wanted to be able to perform here.”
 

[1] Nicol David (Mas) 3-0 [9] Annie Au (Hkg)
           11/3, 11/2, 11/3 (25m)

Nicol dominant

Even if Annie Au had been in good form, which she isn’t, it would have been a daunting task for the diminutive Hong Kong players, taking on Nicol David who has been dominant in the World Open, in Cayman, and over Au for the past several years.

With the Malaysian number one in pretty good form herself this had the makings of a onesided match and so it proved as Nicol took a grip from the start, never let go, with Annie unable to make more than the occasional fleeting impression.

“It’s great getting back here,” said the six-time defending champion, “I love the court, the setting and the music too, so it’s nice to be playing here again, especially in the World Open. The last three years here have been memorable for me but this is the big one and everyone will be going for it and stepping their game up.

“I’m just happy to be playing well and looking forward to the quarter-finals, taking it one match at a time and enjoying it all.”