CSC Delaware Open RD1: Malaysia’s Wern and Lai Among Surprise Winners

The Malaysian duo of Low Wee Wern and Wen Li Lai were among the three unseeded players to secure wins on the opening day of the CSC Delaware Open.

Wern, a former World No.5, is continuing her comeback to the Tour after a lengthy absence through injury. The Malaysian took on No.7 seed Karina Tyma in the first round of the Challenger 10 women’s event, and she got the better of the Polish No.1 in straight games.

She will be joined in the quarter finals by compatriot Wen Li Lai, who defeated the No.3 seed, also in straight games. Lai downed Australia’s Sarah Cardwell, the World No.69, in three to book her spot in the last eight of the competition.

The other surprise winner in terms of seeding on day one in Delaware was New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts. The Kiwi No.2 overcame the challenge of Egypt’s Rana Ismail, the draw’s No.4 seed. Watts, like the two Malaysians, won in straight games to book her spot in the next round, and she will now take on Wern to guarantee an unseeded player in the semi-finals.

Elsewhere, Chan Yiwen and Xin Ying Yee made it four Malaysians to move into the quarter finals. Yiwen will now take on top seed Ka Yi Lee after beating the returning Catalina Pelaez, who was featuring on Tour for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The quarter finals of the CSC Delaware Open will take place on Friday, February 24. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

First Round Results: CSC Delaware Open
[1] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) bt Menna Nasser (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
[6] Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt [WC] Catalina Pelaez (COL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-2
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [7] Karina Tyma (POL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [4] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
Wen Li Lai (MAS) bt [3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-3
[8] Xin Ying Yee (MAS) bt Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
[5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 11-3, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8
[2] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-6

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, February 24
[1] Ka Yi Lee (HKG) v [6] Chan Yiwen (MAS)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)
Wen Li Lai (MAS) v [8] Xin Ying Yee (MAS)
[5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) v [2] Kenzy Ayman (EGY)