Nash Cup: Naughton Through on Day of Upsets in Ontario

Top seed Hollie Naughton avoided an upset in round two of the Nash Cup, beating rising American star Caroline Fouts in four games. 

The talented teenager showcased plenty of her burgeoning talent as she forced the World No.19 to dig deep, but the experienced Canadian came out on top in the end, sealing victory inside 45 minutes. 

Naughton will face fellow Canadian Nikki Todd in the quarter-finals, after the Toronto-based player stunned No.8 seed Saran Nghiem – a player ranked 80 places above her in the world – to reach the final eight. 

Nghiem was one of four seeds to crash out of the women’s draw in round two, as Cindy Merlo, Kenzy Ayman and Diana Garcia were knocked out by Wen Li Lai, Laura Tovar and Karina Tyma respectively. 

The men’s side also featured its fair share of upsets on what was an eventual day at the London Squash & Fitness Club. 

No.8 seed Andrew Douglas was edged out in five games by Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva, while Finnlay Withington sunk Portugal’s No.6 seed Rui Soares to move into the quarter-finals, where he will face David Baillargeon, the last remaining Canadian. 

Meanwhile, second seed Nick Wall remains on course for back-to-back titles after cruising past local wild card Salah Eltorgman. Wall took less than half an hour to complete his win, a contrast to No.1 seed Yahya Elnawasany, who needed 54 minutes and four games to see off unseeded Czech Daniel Mekbib.

Results: Men’s Round Two

[1] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-1: 14-12, 6-11, 14-12, 11-5 (54m) 

[7] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt Jeremias Azaña (ARG) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 12-10 (50m) 

Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) bt [8] Andrew Douglas (USA) 3-2: 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9 (59m) 

[4] Faraz Khan (USA) bt Edwin Clain (FRA) 3-2: 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 8-11, 14-12 (72m) 

[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) bt Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (44m) 

Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt [6] Rui Soares (POR) 3-1: 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 (37m) 

[5] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Dillon Huang (USA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (30m) 

[2] Nick Wall (ENG) bt [WC] Salah Eltorgman (CAN) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (29m) 

Draw: Men’s Quarter-Finals

[1] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) v [7] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 

Sanjay Jeeva (MAS) v [4] Faraz Khan (USA) 

[3] David Baillargeon (CAN) v Finnlay Withington (ENG) 

[5] Curtis Malik (ENG) v [2] Nick Wall (ENG)

Results: Women’s Round Two

[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Caroline Fouts (USA) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10 (42m) 

Nikki Todd (CAN) bt [8] Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (37m) 

Wen Li Lai (MAS) bt [6] Cindy Merlo (SUI) 3-1: 11-2, 5-11, 11-4, 11-5 (33m) 

Laura Tovar (COL) bt [3] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (28m) 

[4] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Riya Navani (USA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 (28m) 

Karina Tyma (POL) bt [7] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (45m) 

[5] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Sofía Mateos (ESP) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 (23m) 

[2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (29m)

Draw: Women’s Quarter-Finals

[1] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Nikki Todd (CAN) 

Wen Li Lai (MAS) v Laura Tovar (COL) 

[4] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) v Karina Tyma (POL) 

[5] Marina Stefanoni (USA) v [2] Lucy Turmel (ENG)