Rhode Island Open RD2: Salunkhe and Stefanoni Cause Upsets

USA’s Marina Stefanoni and Indian Akanksha Salunkhe took surprise wins in the second round of the Rhode Island Open, as they beat two of the top four seeds to reach the quarter finals.

Stefanoni carried American hopes into the last 16 of the Challenger 20 level tournament, and she took on No.4 seed Ineta Mackevica. She took the first two games of their clash comfortably, but saw the Latvian No.1 fight back to win the third game 13-11. However, the World No.62 was able to settle herself to take the fourth game and win the match 3-1.

She will be joined in the quarter finals of the competition by India’s Akanksha Salunkhe. The World No.81 overcame the challenge of Canada’s Nicole Bunyan, the tournament’s No.3 seed, in straight games. The first game was tight, with Salunkhe coming through it 11-9, before she cruised to victory, winning both the second and third games by an 11-6 scoreline.

Elsewhere, Scotland’s Georgia Adderley and Englishwoman Grace Gear bot had to come through five-game battles. The Scot came from two games down to defeat Menna Nasser, while Gear won a last game tie-break 12-10 to overcome Malaysia’s Wen Li Lai.

The quarter finals of the Rhode Island Open will take place at PVD Squash, with the last eight doing battle for places in the semis. You can keep up to date with live scores from the event here.

Second Round Results: Rhode Island Open
[1] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 13-11, 11-6 (33m)
[6] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
[5] Grace Gear (ENG) bt Wen Li Lai (MAS) 3-2: 10-12, 11-7 11-8, 10-12, 12-10 (63m)
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt [3] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (22m)
Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [4] Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 3-1: 11-5, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8 (31m)
[8] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Menna Nasser (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (40m)
[7] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt Elise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (16m)
[2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 (51m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, November 11
[1] Farida Mohamed (EGY) v [6] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[5] Grace Gear (ENG) v Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)
Marina Stefanoni (USA) v [8] Georgia Adderley (SCO)
[7] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) v [2] Lucy Turmel (ENG)