Monte Carlo QF: Unseeded Heikal Gatecrashes Semis

After causing an upset in the second round, Egypt’s Nour Heikal continue her knockout run, this time downing the No.6 seed, Menna Hamed, to reach the last four.

Heikal defeated Finnish No.1 Emilia Soini in the second round on Tuesday evening, and she came up against compatriot Menna Hamed in the quarter finals. Hamed came into this tournament as the No.6 seed, and having won the PSA Cognac at the weekend.

However, Heikal was in great form once again. The first game was tight, with the young Egyptian taking it 11-9, and from there on, she was in control. She went on to take the match in straight games, to move through to the last four of the Challenger 20 level competition.

She will now take on Frenchwoman Melissa Alves in the semi-finals, after the tournament’s No.2 seed downed England’s Torrie Malik. It was the Englishwoman who won the first game, but Alves fought back to win in four in 40 minutes to advance.

The other semi-final will see Rana Ismail take on Marie Stephan in another France-Egypt clash. Ismail took on top seed Lucy Turmel in the quarter finals, but after the Englishwoman suffered an ankle injury in practice, she was unable to move at her best. After going 2-1 down in the contest, Turmel retired to protect her ankle, allowing Ismail to move through to the last four.

The Egyptian will face Marie Stephan on Thursday in Monte Carlo, after the Frenchwoman, and No.4 seed, overcame England’s Alicia Mead. After a tight first game, which Stephan won 11-9, she was able to keep control of the match, and went on to claim victory in straight games.

The Monte Carlo Classic continues on Thursday, December 1 with the semi-finals of the Challenger 20 level competition. Both matches will see French players take on Egyptians for spots in Friday’s finals.

Quarter Final Results: Monte Carlo Classic
[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) bt [1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-1: 11-5, 7-11, 11-7 rtd (33m)
[4] Marie Stephan (FRA) bt [7] Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [6] Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (28m)
[2] Melissa Alves (FRA) bt [5] Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (40m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, December 1
[8] Rana Ismail (EGY) v [4] Marie Stephan (FRA)
Nour Heikal (EGY) v [2] Melissa Alves (FRA)