Sutton Coldfield QF: Orfi and Ismail Set Up Surprise Semi-Final

The Egyptian duo of Amina Orfi and Hana Ismail will meet in a surprise semi-final clash at the Sutton Coldfield International in England.

The pair both came into the tournament unseeded, with Orfi having claimed her maiden Tour title just last month. The 15-year-old continued her unbeaten run into this week’s Challenger 5 level tournament in Sutton Coldfield, and she got the better of No.4 seed Asia Harris to reach the semis.

Orfi, who also succeeded at the World Junior Championships earlier this year, dropped just two points in the opening game of her quarter final contest on Thursday. She then won the second game 11-9 to double her advantage, but Harris, who also secured her maiden Tour title last month, fought back. The young Egyptian came through the battle, though. After losing the third 15-13, she took the fourth 11-5 to secure the victory.

She will now face compatriot Hana Ismail in the last four, after her fellow Egyptian downed No.2 seed Alison Thomson. Like Orfi, she went two games ahead, but saw her opponent fight back to win the third. Ismail got the job done in four, winning the fourth 12-10, to advance to the semi-finals.

The other women’s semi-final will see top seed Anna Kimberley take on New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts. The Englishwoman got the better of Finnish No.2 Emilia Korhonen to make it through, while Watts had to go the distance in her quarter final contest with Scotland’ Katriona Allen, eventually winning in a fifth game.

Along with the Egyptian double in the women’s event, there was also a surprise in the men’s draw. Scotland’s Alasdair Prott continued his knockout run, downing No.4 seed James Peach in a five-game battle to make the last four.

Prott got the better of No.8 seed Owain Taylor on Wednesday, and came into his quarter final contest full of confidence. The Scot won the first on a tie-break 14-12, but saw Peach fight back to level. After the same pattern followed in the next two games, the match went to a decider, and it was Prott that took the fifth game 11-8 to secure a fine victory.

He will now face No.2 seed Simon Herbert in the last four, after the Englishman also went to five in his quarter final. He survived a fight-back from New Zealand’s Temwa Chileshe to win in 65 minutes. The other semi will be an all-Welsh affair, with Emyr Evans and Elliott Morris Devred set to do battle on Friday evening.

The semis of the Sutton Coldfield International will take place on Friday, December 2, with the final four in both draws doing battle. You can keep up to date with live scores from the tournament here.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Sutton Coldfield International
[7] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt Stuart MacGregor (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)
[3] Emyr Evans (WAL) bt [5] Ben Smith (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3 (49m)
Alasdair Prott (SCO) bt [4] James Peach (ENG) 3-2: 14-12, 4-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8 (55m)
[2] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt [6] Temwa Chileshe (NZL) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (65m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, December 2
[7] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [3] Emyr Evans (WAL)
Alasdair Prott (SCO) v [2] Simon Herbert (ENG)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Sutton Coldfield International
[1] Anna Kimberley (ENG) bt [7] Emilia Korhonen (FIN) 3-1: 11-8, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6 (40m)
[3] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt [8] Katriona Allen (SCO) 3-2: 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5 (48m)
Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [4] Asia Harris (ENG) 3-1: 11-2, 11-9, 13-15, 11-5 (50m)
Hana Ismail (EGY) bt [2] Alison Thomson (SCO) 3-1: 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 12-10 (47m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, December 2
[1] Anna Kimberley (ENG) v [3] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL)
Amina Orfi (EGY) v Hana Ismail (EGY)