Monte Carlo Classic: Swiss Duo Cause Upsets on Day One

Swiss duo Ambre Allinckx and Celine Walser caused the biggest upsets on day one of the Monte Carlo Classic, both knocking out [9/16] seeds to reach round two. 

Playing World No.79 Kaitlyn Watts on court one, Allinckx continued the good form that saw her reach the Swiss Open semi-finals last week, beating the New Zealander 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 in just 24 minutes. 

That victory was followed soon afterwards by the other Swiss surprise, with Walser seeing off Germany’s Katerina Tycova 3-0. 

Walser is ranked 50 places below the German, although the Swiss player had won all three of their previous meetings, including the final of the Austrian Open last year, and added a fourth win to that leger in Monaco. 

Walser will now play No.3 seed Mariam Metwally in round two, while Allinckx faces Georgia Adderley in the same quarter of the draw, meaning should the Swiss pair cause another two upsets, they would face off in the last eight. 

Elsewhere, England’s Keira Marshall came out on top of the only match to go to four games, beating France’s Ana Munos, overturning a sizeable deficit in game four to avoid a decider and progress. 

Her reward is a matchup with another Frenchwomen, Enora Villard, in round two, with the winner set to play either Lucy Turmel or Rana Ismail in the quarter-finals. 

Results: Women’s Round One 

[9/16] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bt Aylin Günsav (GER) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (22m) 
[9/16] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt Élise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (28m) 
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt [9/16] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 (24m) 
Celine Walser (SUI) bt [9/16] Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 (25m) 
[9/16] Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) bt Nour Ramy (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (26m) 
[9/16] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) bt Klara Møller (DEN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (21m) 
[9/16] Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Ana Munos (FRA) 3-1: 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9 (28m) 
[9/16] Rana Ismail (EGY) bt Sofía Mateos (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-2 (23m) 

Draw: Women’s Round Two 

1] Emily Whitlock (WAL) v [9/16] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) 
[8] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [9/16] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) 
[6] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 
[3] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Celine Walser (SUI) 
[4] Hana Moataz (EGY) v [9/16] Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 
[7] Grace Gear (ENG) v [9/16] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) 
[5] Énora Villard (FRA) v [9/16] Kiera Marshall (ENG) 
[2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [9/16] Rana Ismail (EGY)