The St. James Open: Ray Wins Another Thriller to Set Up Malik Semi-Final

Danielle Ray won a second thriller in as many days, beating Akanksha Salunkhe in another fifth-game tie break to set up a semi-final with Torrie Malik at The St. James Open presented by Argent Bridge Advisors. 

Little more than 24 hours after saving five match balls in a stunning comeback win over Nicole Bunyan, Ray once again had to do things the hard way, overturning a 2-1 deficit in games before saving another match ball at 11-10 down in the fifth, eventually winning it 13-11. 

Game five was the third game of the match to go to a tie break, extending Ray’s time on court out beyond 50 minutes for the second day in a row. 

In total, the Canadian has spent more than two hours playing so far this week, in what is her first event since returning from an injury which has kept her out of action since March. 

She’s now just one win away from reaching a first final since 2021, but standing in her way is the in-form Malik, who is targeting a seventh PSA Tour title of what has been an outstanding 2023 so far. 

The No.5 seed booked her spot in the last four with a 3-0 win over Ireland’s Hannah Craig.  

After racing out of the blocks and into a 4-0 lead in game one, Malik was pegged back as Craig won seven of the next nine points to take a 7-6 lead. 

The 19-year-old regained momentum, though, taking game one 11-8 before dominating game two to move within one game of victory. 

But Craig was determined not to make life easy for her opponent, never letting Malik get out of sight and even brought up a game ball of her own at 10-9, but was unable to convert with a stroke decision sending the game to a tie break. 

Malik would then win the next two points to wrap up victory and set up a first ever PSA Tour meeting with Ray. 

The second semi-final will see No.2 seed Marina Stefanoni take on fourth seed Haya Ali, with both players winning their quarter-finals 3-0 in less than half an hour. 

19-year-old Ali saw off France’s Elise Romba, though only after coming through a lengthy game-three tie break which finished 16-14. 

Stefanoni, meanwhile, beat Egypt’s Rana Ismail 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, to reach a fourth semi-final in her last four Challenger Tour appearances. 

Results: Women’s Quarter-Finals 

[9/16] Danielle Ray (CAN) bt [6] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-2: 10-12, 15-13, 6-11, 11-4, 13-11 (51m) 
[5] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [9/16] Hannah Craig (IRL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 (32m) 
[4] Haya Ali (EGY) bt [9/16] Élise Romba (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 16-14 (29m) 
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [7] Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (27m)