Champion FIberglass Open RD2: Fouts and Stefanoni Set Up All-American Clash

The American duo of Marina Stefanoni and Caroline Fouts will meet in the quarters of the Champion Fiberglass Women’s Open in Houston.

Both were playing their first matches of the week after receiving opening round byes, and No.2 seed Stefanoni faced the tricky task of playing Ukraine’s Alina Bushma. She went two games up, and although the Ukrainian fought back to win the third, Stefanoni went on to win the fourth to claim the victory. 

She will now take on fellow American Caroline Fouts in the last eight on Friday in Houston. Fouts, the No.7 seed, needed just 18 minutes to get her campaign underway. She got the better of Guatemala’s Winifer Bonilla, winning in straight games.

Elsewhere, there was a couple of surprises, as Egypt’s Ingy Hammouda and Welshwoman Lowri Roberts both knocked out seeds. Roberts downed compatriot Ali Loke in straight games, dropping just nine points to take the win. Meanwhile, Hammouda downed Mexico’s Diana Garcia to set up a clash with top seed Kenzy Ayman.

Malak Khafagy and Menna Hamed complete the Egyptian contingent in the quarter finals in Houston, with India’s Akanksha Salunkhe the other woman who will feature in the last eight on Friday.

The Champion Fiberglass Women’s Open continues on Friday, June 23 with the quarter finals. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Second Round Results: Champion Fiberglass Women’s Open
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Salma El Aify (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (25m)
Ingy Hammouda (EGY) bt [6] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 10-12, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9 (50m)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [8] Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 13-11 (23m)
[4] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (BRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 (18m)
[3] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Riya Navani (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 (43m)
[5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt Lucie Stefanoni (USA) 3-1: 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
[7] Caroline Fouts (USA) bt Winifer Bonilla (GUA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-8 (18m)
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-1: 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (35m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, June 23
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v Ingy Hammouda (EGY)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) v [4] Menna Hamed (EGY)
[3] Malak Khafagy (EGY) v [5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)
[7] Caroline Fouts (USA) v [2] Marina Stefanoni (USA)