Nash Cup: Naughton into Semis, Men’s Top Seeds Crash Out

The top two seeds went crashing out of the men’s draw on day three of the Nash Cup, while Hollie Naughton remained on course for glory in the women’s event. 

Egypt’s Yahya Elnawasany – the men’s No.1 seed – had already come through a five-game encounter with Daniel Mekbib in his opening match but was unable to repeat the trick in the quarter-finals, crumbling in the decisive fifth game against Spain’s Bernat Jaume. 

Second seed Nick Wall also saw his title hopes evaporate in the last eight, denying him a shot at back-to-back trophies. Last week’s Charlottesville Open winner went down in four games to fellow Englishman Curtis Malik in 50 minutes. 

Those results have left the door wide open for a Canadian double at this year’s tournament, with Montreal-based No.3 seed David Baillargeon the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw. 

Baillargeon needed close to an hour to edge past rising star Finnlay Withington in five games, and will be eyeing a shot at the title on home soil. 

The path to glory for fellow Canadian Hollie Naughton appeared, on paper at least, to get easier in the women’s competition. 

Naughton swept aside compatriot Nikki Todd in three games to book her spot in the semi-finals, but England’s Lucy Turmel, the No.2 seed, was unable to follow. 

The World No.31 came out on the wrong side of a back-and-forth encounter with the USA’s Marina Stefanoni, losing 3-2 in a match that went late into the Ontario night, finishing after 11pm local time.

You can watch the semi-finals of the Nash Cup live here.

Results: Men’s Quarter-Finals

[7] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [1] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2 (62m) 

[4] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (31m) 

[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-2: 9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6 (56m) 

[5] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [2] Nick Wall (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (50m)

Draw: Men’s Semi-Finals

[7] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [4] Faraz Khan (USA) 

[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) v [5] Curtis Malik (ENG)

Results: Women’s Quarter-Finals

[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Nikki Todd (CAN) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (21m) 

Laura Tovar (COL) bt Wen Li Lai (MAS) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (48m) 

[4] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Karina Tyma (POL) 3-1: 18-16, 12-10, 18-20, 11-5 (48m) 

[5] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-2: 11-7, 7-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-6 (67m)

Draw: Women’s Semi-Finals

[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Laura Tovar (COL) 

[4] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v [5] Marina Stefanoni (USA)