Blatchford Clyne and Sobhy Steer Home Hopes in Cleveland Classic Round One

USA’s World No.17 Olivia Blatchford Clyne and World No.39 Sabrina Sobhy both ensured home hopes advanced at the Cleveland Classic as the PSA World Tour Bronze event got under way last night.

Blatchford Clyne showed a dominant performance as she comfortably dispatched Czech Republic’s Anna Serme in straight-games to set up a round two clash with England’s No.8 seed Victoria Lust.

Meanwhile, Sobhy continued her good form from the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions earlier this month as she came from two games down against Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica to advance.

World No.58 Mackevica claimed the opening two games on tight tie-break margins, before Sobhy was able to turn things around as she found her length to take the 10-12, 12-14, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 victory in 45 minutes.

Sobhy will face top seed and reigning champion Nour El Tayeb for a place in the quarter finals.

Elsewhere at the Cleveland Racquet Club, wildcard Mariana De Juan Gallach was unable to progress as she fell to an 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 defeat at the hands of Egypt’s Nadine Shahin, who will face Hong Kong’s World No.11 Annie Au in round two.

Shahin will be joined in the second round by compatriots Farida Mohamed, Menna Nasser, Menna Hamed and Mayar Hany after they all secured wins on the opening day of action.

Canada’s World No.29 Hollie Naughton will face No.2 seed and 2018 champion Joelle King in the second round after she came from two games down against Welshwoman Ali Loke.

It was a strong start from Loke, who went two games up and even held match ball in the third. However, Naughton showed her resilience to dig in and come back to win in five.

Round two takes place today as the top eight seeds enter the draw. Play starts at 17:00 local time (GMT-5) and you can follow the live scores from the event here.

There will also be live streaming. Follow the action from court one and court two.

Results: Cleveland Classic Round One
Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 3-2: 10-12, 12-14, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (45m)
Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (23m)
Menna Nasser (EGY) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-1: 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 (30m)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt [WC] Marina De Juan Gallach (ESP) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-7 (24m)
Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Salma Youssef (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (28m)
Mayar Hany (EGY) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (25m)
Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt Anna Serme (CZE) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (23m)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Ali Loke (WAL) 3-2: 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 (47m)

Draw: Cleveland Classic Round Two – To be played January 31
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v [7] Salma Hany (EGY)
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Menna Nasser (EGY)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) v [4] Annie Au (HKG)
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Menna Hamed (EGY)
Mayar Hany (EGY) v [6] Alison Waters (ENG)
[8] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v [2] Joelle King (NZL)