Women’s Kinetic Challenger RD2: Turnbull Secures Sole Upset

There was just the one surprise result on the second day of the Women’s Kinetic Orange Ball 30K Challenger, as Australia’s Jessica Turnbull made it through to the quarter finals.

The Australian came into the event unseeded, and she got the better of Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold on Thursday evening in Florida.

Turnbull currently sits 40 places below Arnold in the world rankings, but that did not stop her from taking the lead on two occasions, as she won both the first and third games. The Malaysian fought back to level the match twice, but Turnbull got the job done in the deciding fifth game to win.

The Australian will now take on the tournament’s No.2 seed, Emily Whitlock, after the Welshwoman defeated Polish No.1 Karina Tyma 3-1. She regrouped after losing the second game in a tie-break 13-11 to win in four games.

The only other match to go the distance on the second day of the Challenger 30 level competition was an all-Egyptian clash. No.6 seed Jana Shiha eventually defeated compatriot Salma Eltayeb after 50 minutes, and a five-game match that saw three tie-breaks.

Shiha went behind after losing both the first and third games by a 12-10 scoreline, but she fought back to level the match on both occasions. The young Egyptian then fought through to win the fifth on a tie-break, by the same score, to move through to the quarter finals.

Top seed Farida Mohamed was among the others to win on day two of the competition, as she defeated England’s Millie Tomlinson in straight games. Elsewhere, Canada’s Nicole Bunyan, Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam, Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe and Egypt’s Hana Moataz all booked their last eight places.

The quarter finals of the Women’s Kinetic Orange Ball 30K Challenger will take place on Friday, April 21. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from Florida is being streamed throughout the week on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, where you can watch Challenger Tour action, and interviews with rising stars. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Second Round Results: Women’s Kinetic Orange Ball 30K Challenger
[1] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (24m)
[8] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (25m)
[6] Jana Shiha (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-2: 10-12, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 12-10 (50m)
[4] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Rana Ismail (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (21m)
[7] Hana Moataz (EGY) bt Ainaa Amani (MAS) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8 (30m)
Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [5] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-2: 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7 (44m)
[2] Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Karina Tyma (POL) 3-1: 11-9, 11-13, 11-2, 11-3 (46m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 21
[1] Farida Mohamed (EGY) v [8] Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
[6] Jana Shiha (EGY) v [4] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) v [7] Hana Moataz (EGY)
Jessica Turnbull (AUS) v [2] Emily Whitlock (WAL)