Nash Cup RD2: Zein Downs Top Seed Among Several Surprises

The second day of the Nash Cup saw the seeded players make their bows at the Challenger 20 level tournament, but for six of those 16 players, it would be their only match of the tournament, with Egypt’s Zeina Zein knocking out the women’s top seed in London.

The 17-year-old Egyptian, who claimed her maiden Tour title earlier this year, got the better of Colombian Laura Tovar on the opening day to set up her second round clash with the women’s top seed, Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica, on day two of the competition.

There was no fear shown by the Egyptian, as she raced into a two-game lead, dropping just eight points in the process. Mackevica showed why she was a top 50 player in the third game to pull one back, but a quick start from Zein in the fourth game gave her a lead she would not relinquish, going on to take victory 3-1 to move through to the last eight in London.

Switzerland’s Ambre Allinckx and England’s Torrie Malik also caused upsets on Wednesday evening, as they got the better of No.6 seed Karina Tyma and No.8 seed Alison Thomson, respectively, to make their way into the quarter finals of the competition.

The big surprise in the men’s draw came through the USA’s Andrew Douglas, who dumped out Canadian No.1, and home favourite, David Baillargeon. The Canadian had won their only previous meeting, which came in the British Virgin Islands earlier this year, but Douglas held full control throughout their match on Wednesday, winning in straight games to book his spot in the quarters.

He will be joined by two more unseeded players, in Spain’s Edmon Lopez and Czech Republic’s Daniel Mekbib. They overcame the challengers of No.4 seed Arturo Salazar and No.5 seed Timothy Brownell to set up an their quarter final contest, guaranteeing an unseeded player in the last four in London.

The quarter finals of the Nash Cup will take place in London, Ontario on Thursday, September 15, with the last eight in both draws going head-to-head for places in the semi-finals of the Challenger 20 level competition. All the action from the London Squash Club will be streamed LIVE on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, and you can also keep up to date with live scores from the event on the PSA World Tour’s website.

Men’s Second Round Results: Nash Cup
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Yannik Omlor (GER) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5 (46m)
[7] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Michael McCue (CAN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 13-11 (48m)
Daniel Mekbib (CZE) bt [5] Timothy Brownell (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-13, 11-2, 11-4 (44m)
Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt [4] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-2: 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 15-13, 11-0 (47m)
Andrew Douglas (USA) bt [3] David Baillargeon (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (41m)
[8] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Alfredo Avila (MEX) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (39m)
[6] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt Guilherme Melo (BRA) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5 (69m)
[2] Henry Leung (HKG) bt Nick Sachvie (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 13-11, 11-9 (43m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, September 15
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) v [7] Christopher Gordon (USA)
Daniel Mekbib (CZE) v Edmon Lopez (ESP)
Andrew Douglas (USA) v [8] Curtis Malik (ENG)
[6] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) v [2] Henry Leung (HKG)

Women’s Second Round Results: Nash Cup
Zeina Zein (EGY) bt [1] Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 3-1: 11-5, 11-3, 8-11, 11-4 (27m)
[7] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) bt Nadeen Kotb (EGY) 3-1: 12-10, 11-6, 11-13, 11-6 (39m)
Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [8] Alison Thomson (SCO) 3-1: 11-2, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
[3] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (32m)
[4] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-0: 18-16, 11-6, 11-6 (39m)
[5] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 17-15, 11-4 (38m)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) bt [6] Karina Tyma (POL) 3-1: 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)
[2] Haley Mendez (USA) bt Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-1: 11-8, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10 (36m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, September 15
Zeina Zein (EGY) v [7] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP)
Torrie Malik (ENG) v [3] Lucy Beecroft (ENG)
[4] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [5] Marina Stefanoni (USA)
Ambre Allinckx (SUI) v [2] Haley Mendez (USA)