BVAC Women’s Open RD1: Local Players Bow Out

There were no upsets to be found on day one of the Expression Networks BVAC Women’s Open, with all eight local players in action exiting the PSA Challenger Tour 10 event at the first hurdle following defeats at the Bow Valley Athletic Club.

World No.77 Cheng Nga Ching was in action against World No.307 Catherine Giachino and advanced courtesy of an 11-5, 11-2, 11-1 victory in just 16 minutes. She will be joined in round two by Mexico’s Diana Garcia, who toppled Jaime Lard in straight games. Ching and Garcia will face off against Australian duo Sarah Cardwell and Alex Haydon, respectively, in the last 16.

The only match to last longer than three games was the clash between Wales’ Ali Loke and Niki Shemirani, with the former winning 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 in 37 minutes. Loke will take on New Zealand’s No.6 seed Kaitlyn Watts in the second round.

The day began with two 12-minute matches as Switzerland’s Ambre Allinckx and Egypt’s Sohaila Ismail scoring comfortable victories against Georgia Watson and Sara Khan.

Allinckx will go up against French No.3 seed Marie Stephan next, with Ismail set for a clash against No.4 seed Zeina Zein.

There were also wins for Riya Navani, Ching Hei Fung and Alison Thomson, who will be paired with top seed Enora Villard, No.2 seed Nicole Bunyan and No.8 seed Alicia Mead, respectively, in the last 16.

You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from the quarter finals onwards in Calgary will be streamed on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, where you can watch Challenger Tour action and interviews with rising stars.

Results – First Round: 2023 Expression Networks BVAC Women’s Open
Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bt Hannah Guthrie (CAN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (19m)
Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt Catherine Giachino (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-1 (16m)
Alison Thomson (SCO) bt Maddison Laine (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (24m)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt Georgia Watson (CAN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-0 (12m)
Sohaila Ismail (EGY) bt Sara Khan (CAN) 3-0: 11-1, 11-2, 11-8 (12m)
Ali Loke (WAL) bt Niki Shemari (CAN) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 (37m)
Diana Garcia (MEX) bt Jaime Laird (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-1 (17m)
Riya Navani (USA) bt Amelia Knapp (CAN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-2 (23m)

Draw – Second Round: To Be Played February 14th
[2] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v Ching Hei Fung (HKG)
Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) v [5] Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
[8] Alicia Mead (ENG) v Alison Thomson (SCO)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) v [3] Marie Stephan (FRA)
[4] Zeina Zein (EGY) v Sohaila Ismail (EGY)
Ali Loke (WAL) v [6] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)
[7] Alex Haydon (AUS) v Dian Garcia (MEX)
Riya Navani (USA) v [1] Enora Villard (FRA)