Nantes Open Women’s Roundup: Qualifying Draws to a Close

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The final round of qualifying at the Open International de Squash de Nantes, PSA W5 tournament saw second qualifying seed Charlotte Delsinne become the only Frenchwoman to make it through to the main draw.

World No.179 Delsinne defeated compatriot Sabrina Belliot in the previous round and found herself up against another French player, Laura Paquemar, for a place in the main draw.

Both players won a game apiece in the opening exchanges, before Delsinne narrowly triumphed in both the third and fourth games to complete an 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 victory, which means she will take on England’s Rachael Chadwick in the main draw’s opening round.

Number eight qualifying seed Marion Romba was the other Frenchwoman in action, but she bowed out after losing to Switzerland’s Cindy Merlo. Merlo, the World No.197, will be appearing in only her second PSA World Tour main draw and will face Tessa ter Sluis next.

Elsewhere, top qualifying seed Marina de Juan Gallach and England’s Julianne Courtice have also qualified for the main draw courtesy of respective wins against Paulina Krzywicka and Emma Custance Baker.

De Juan Gallach will go head-to-head with Frenchwoman Laura Pomportes, who recently won the Legacy Wealth Belfast Open, while Courtice is set to face number four seed Enora Villard.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: Open International de Squash de Nantes 2016
[1] Marina de Juan Gallach (ESP) bt [6] Paulina Krzywicka (POL) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 11-6 (18m)
[4] Cindy Merlo (SUI) bt [8] Marion Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-3, 11-0 (15m)
[5] Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt [3] Emma Custance Baker (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-0, 11-1 (14m)
[2] Charlotte Delsinne (FRA) bt [L] Laura Paquemar (FRA) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 (40m)

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Chloe Mesic (FRA) v Nia Davies (WAL)
[Q] Marina de Juan Gallach (ESP) v [8] Laura Pomportes (FRA)
[7] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v [Q] Cindy Merlo (FRA)
[WC] Sarah Mekhalfi (FRA) v [3] Hana Ramadan (EGY)
[4] Enora Villard (FRA) v [Q] Julianne Courtice (FRA)
Marta Latorre Ramirez (ESP) v [5] Nadia Pfister (SUI)
[6] Rachael Chadwick (ENG) v [Q] Charlotte Delsinne (FRA)
Elise Romba (FRA) v [2] Alexandra Fuller (RSA)