Assore/Balwin Joburg Open: Kalengo & Diekmann Gatecrash Quarters in South Africa

Round two action came to a close yesterday in Johannesburg as the quarter finalists of the Assore/Baldwin Joburg Open were confirmed at the Parkview Squash Centre.

There were only two upsets on day two, which both came in the men’s draw as African duo Kundanji Kalengo and Arno Diekmann claimed impressive upsets to gatecrash the final eight. Zambia’s Kalengo wasted no time in his round two classes as he overcame Hong Kong’s No.5 seed Wilson Chan 3-0 in just 21 minutes.

Namibia’s Arno Diekmann was also up against Hong Kong opposition as he faced No.8 seed Anson Wong. After losing the opening game 12-10, Diekmann battled back in strong fashion and dominated the rest of the match, winning the next three games comfortably 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 to book his place in the quarter finals.

There was no joy for any lower seeded players in the women’s draw as all eight matches went the way of the top eight seeds, all 3-0. No match lasted longer than 25 minutes, sending all top eight seeds through to the quarter finals in emphatic fashion.

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Results: Men’s RD2
[1] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bt Gareth Craigen (RSA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-5 (22m)
[9/16] Kundanji Kalengo (ZAM) bt [5] Wilson Chan (HKG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (21m)
[6] Damian Groenewald (RSA) bt Diodivine Mkhize (RSA) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 11-7 (31m)
[4] Tristen Worth (RSA) bt Sipho Clifford (RSA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10 (44m)
[3] Ruan Olivier (RSA) bt [9/16] Callum Lawton (ZIM) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 (29m)
[9/16] Arno Diekmann (NAM) bt [8] Anson Wong (HKG) 3-1: 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 (39m)
[7] Jonty Matthys (RSA) bt [9/16] Luhann Groenewald (RSA) 3-1: 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 16-14
[2] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt Nikhil Pather (RSA) 3-0: w/o

Draw: Men’s QF
[1] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) v [9/16] Kundanji Kalengo (ZAM)
[4] Tristen Worth (RSA) v [6] Damian Groenewald (RSA)
[3] Ruan Olivier (RSA) v [9/16] Arno Diekmann (NAM)
[2] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) v [7] Jonty Matthys (RSA)

Results: Women’s RD2
[1] Menna Walid (EGY) bt [9/16] Shelomi Truter (RSA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (21m)
[5] Hayley Ward (RSA) bt [9/16] Anam Mustafa Aziz (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 (17m)
[7] Helena Coetzee (RSA) bt [9/16] Keschia Scorgie (RSA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (23m)
[3] Alexa Pienaar (RSA) bt [9/16] Mariska Wiese (RSA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 (19m)
[4] Erin Classen (AUS) bt Faith Panashe Sithole (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (23m)
[8] Teagan Roux (RSA) bt [9/16] Dené Van Zyl (RSA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 (16m)
[6] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) bt [9/16] Kimberley Mcdonald (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (24m)
[2] Amina El Rihany (EGY) bt [9/16] Awande Malinga (RSA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)

Draw: Women’s QF
[1] Menna Walid (EGY) v [5] Hayley Ward (RSA)
[3] Alexa Pienaar (RSA) v [7] Helena Coetzee (RSA)
[4] Erin Classen (AUS) v [8] Teagan Roux (RSA)
[2] Amina El Rihany (EGY) v [6] Mariam Ashraf (EGY)