Mozart Women’s Open QF: Ali Continues Knockout Run

Egypt’s Haya Ali downed seeded opposition for the second day in a row, beating Germany’s Katerina Tycova to reach the Mozart Open semi-finals.

This week sees the women’s event at the Challenger 5 level competition taking place, with an-all glass court being housed inside the Europark Shopping Centre in Salzburg, Austria.

Ali came into the competition unseeded, and started her week with a win over No.8 seed Taba Taghavi. She then took on Tycova, the No.3 seed, in the quarter finals on Thursday afternoon. The Egyptian took the upset win in straight games, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-7, to move through to the last four.

She will now face compatriot and No.2 seed Malak Khafagy in the semi-finals on Friday evening. Khafagy, the World No.80, overcame Spanish No.3 Sofia Mateos in three games to advance to the semi-finals.

The other match in the last four on Friday evening will see the tournament’s top seed, England’s Torrie Malik, take on Scotland’s Alison Thomson. Malik downed home favourite Jacqueline Peychar, while the Scot defeated France’s Lea Barbeau, both in straight games.

The semi-finals of the women’s event at the Mozart Open in Salzburg will take place on Friday, March 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.

Quarter Final Results: Mozart Open (Women’s)
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [6] Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (22m)
[4] Alison Thomson (SCO) bt [5] Lea Barbeau (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 (25m)
Haya Ali (EGY) bt [3] Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (23m)
[2] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt [7] Sofia Mateos (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (20m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, March 24
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) v [4] Alison Thomson (SCO)
Haya Ali (EGY) v [2] Malak Khafagy (EGY)