Challenger Events
Monte Carlo Classic RD2: Unseeded Nour Heikal Gatecrashes Quarter Finals
Unseeded Nour Heikal scored the biggest upset of her young career in round two of the Monte Carlo Classic 2022, beating No.3 seed and World No.47 Emilia Soini in straight games.
The 19-year old from Egypt, who likes to attack from every corner of the court, started very strongly and never put her foot off the gas.
“I’ve had some injuries and haven’t played many events in 2022, it’s only my third tournament outside of my country actually,” she said after the match. Tomorrow, she will face fellow Egyptian Menna Hamed, who ended the run of wildcard Nour Ramy in three close games.
Soini was the only seeded player to fall in round two in Monte Carlo. Top seeds Lucy Turmel and Mélissa Alves eased their way into the tournament with comfortable 3-0 wins over France’s Taba Taghavi and Elise Romba, respectively.
There will be more French interest in the quarters with Marie Stéphan, but the World No.49 had to overcome a brave resistance from Germany’s Katerina Tycova.
“A first match in a tournament is never easy,” Stephan said.
“I had a slow start, and then in games 2, 3 and 4 I had big leads but I switched off and played at fast pace at the back of the court, which she’s very good at. I am sure it’ll be better tomorrow.”
She will be up against England’s Alicia Mead, who’s been in good form lately and dispatched another French player, Léa Barbeau, in straight games. Besides Hamed v Heikal and Stéphan v Mead, the two other quarters will be Mélissa Alves against English teenager Torrie Malik, who recently clinched her first two titles on the Challenger Tour, and Lucy Turmel versus Rana Ismail, who only needed 17 minutes to beat Ali Loke.
Second Round Results: Monte Carlo Classic
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Taba Taghavi (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (26m)
[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) bt Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (17m)
[7] Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Léa Barbeau (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
[4] Marie Stephan (FRA) bt Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-1: 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (47m)
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [3] Emilia Soini (FIN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (20m)
[6] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt [WC] Nour Ramy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (29m)
[5] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (24m)
[2] Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Elise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (20m)
Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Wednesday, November 30th
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [8] Rana Ismail (EGY)
[7] Alicia Mead (ENG) v [4] Marie Stephan (FRA)
Nour Heikal (EGY) v [6] Menna Hamed (EGY)
[5] Torrie Malik (ENG) v [2] Melissa Alves (FRA)
