Springfield Scottish Squash Open: Harris Shines, Gear Fights Back

English teenager Asia Harris knocked out fourth seed Marta Dominguez Fernandez on day two of the Springfield Scottish Squash Open, as top seeds Rory Stewart and Georgia Adderley made it safely through. 

Harris’ five-game win over the Spaniard was the only upset in the women’s draw, with Adderley one of seven seeds to book their spot in the quarter-finals. 

The Scottish No.1 was on court for just five minutes before her opponent Tessa ter Sluis retired, after losing the first game 11-3, but things were far more testing for No.2 seed Grace Gear. 

The World No.53 – runner-up here two years ago – had to battle back from the brink of defeat to overcome Egypt’s Nour Heikal, eventually winning 3-2 in 55 minutes after dropping the first two games. 

The men’s draw, meanwhile, saw a three seeds dumped out, including Inverness-born Alasdair Prott, who went down in four games to England’s Miles Jenkins. 

Fourth seed Ivan Perez also succumbed to a lower-ranked opponent, losing 3-1 to Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey, but there was some Spanish success thanks to Edmon Lopez. The former top-50 player got the better of No.6 seed Perry Malik to set up a last-eight clash with Stewart, who needed little more than half an hour to see off Sean Conroy. 

In the bottom half of the draw, Ben Smith and James Peach remain on course for an all-English semi-final. 

Smith, the No.2 seed, ensured there would be no repeat heroics from New Zealand’s Joel Arscott following his epic round-one win, cruising to a 3-0 win inside 45 minutes. 

Peach, meanwhile, had to battle back from a game down in his round-two match with compatriot Stuart McGregor, and will now take on third seed Daniel Poleshchuk in the last eight.

Results: Men’s Round Two

[1] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (33m) 

Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt [6] Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 (51m) 

Miles Jenkins (ENG) bt [7] Alasdair Prott (SCO) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (57m) 

Kareem El Torkey (EGY) bt [4] Ivan Perez (ESP) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 (60m) 

[3] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Nilo Vidal (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-4 (19m) 

[5] James Peach (ENG) bt Stuart Macgregor (ENG) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 (52m) 

[8] Sam Buckley (IRL) bt Anthony Lepper (NZL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (50m) 

[2] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Joel Arscott (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (43m) 

Draw: Men’s Quarter-Finals

[1] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Edmon Lopez (ESP) 

Miles Jenkins (ENG) v Kareem El Torkey (EGY) 

[3] Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) v [5] James Peach (ENG) 

[8] Sam Buckley (IRL) v [2] Ben Smith (ENG)

Results: Women’s Round Two

[1] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Tessa ter Sluis (NED) Rtd: 11-3 (5m) 

[5] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-1: 11-2, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7 (44m) 

[7] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt Lea Barbeau (FRA) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-6 (28m) 

Asia Harris (ENG) bt [4] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) 3-2: 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 (62m) 

[3] Nardine Garas (EGY) bt Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (23m) 

[6] Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Alison Thomson (SCO) 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (32m) 

[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) bt Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (26m) 

[2] Grace Gear (ENG) bt Nour Heikal (EGY) 3-2: 6-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9 (55m)

Draw: Women’s Quarter-Finals

[1] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [5] Torrie Malik (ENG) 

[7] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) v Asia Harris (ENG) 

[3] Nardine Garas (EGY) v [6] Alicia Mead (ENG) 

[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) v [2] Grace Gear (ENG)