Mead, Amani and Clain Down Top Seeds To Reach World Championships Qualifying Event Finals

Three of the top seeds were knocked out on the second day of the PSA World Championships Qualifying Event, with England’s Alicia Mead, Malaysian Ainaa Amani and Frenchman Edwin Clain scoring upset victories.

Mead, who was one of several English players still in the competition, took on the top seed in the women’s draw. Egypt’s Nardine Garas won the opening game 11-2, but the young Englishwoman fought back brilliantly to win in four games. 

The World No.80 took the second on a lengthy tie-break. Both women had their chances to secure the second game victory, but it was Mead who won it 17-15. She then won the third game comfortably before seeing the fourth also go to a tie-break. For the second time in the match, it was the Englishwoman who secured the win in a tie-break, taking it 12-10 to secure the victory.

“I thought I was going to get bagelled in the first. I had to calm down and try to find a length, I was getting pummelled across the middle,” Mead said.

“The second was so crucial, I knew I needed a big push to try and take it, I thought it would change the momentum of the match. I came out in the third with a lot of momentum and with familiar faces in the crowd. Everyone was cheering me on and I was really into it. Buzzing, just buzzing!”

Mead will now take on Spain’s No.8 seed Marta Dominguez Fernandez in the Qualifying Finals on Friday afternoon. The Spanish No.2 defeated Hong Kong’s Ching Hei Fung, coming back from a game down to win in four.

Malaysia’s Ainaa Amani was the other woman to cause a big upset, as she downed the draw’s No.2 seed. The World No.83 has won twice on the Challenger Tour in recent weeks, and has brought that form to Birmingham. She needed just 23 minutes to defeat German No.1 Saskia Beinhard, to advance to the Finals.

The young Malaysian will now take on another German on Friday afternoon, in the form of Katerina Tycova. The German No.2 downed Austrian Jacqueline Peychar in four games, and she admitted that she was very tried after the contest was over.

“I’m so, so tired. It was a big effort to win the first two games, I just needed a rest in the third, and she played better too. My coach told me to just push and push in the fourth, to just think about the final ten minutes,” the German explained.

Egypt’s Malak Khafagy and Malaysian Chan Yiwen both downed seeds as well. Khafagy came form a game down to defeat Australian Jessica Turnbull, the No.5 seed, in a five-game thriller. Meanwhile, Yiwen got the better of No.6 seed Nadia Pfister, fighting back to win after the Swiss No.2 won the opening game.

There was a big surprise in the men’s competition as well, as Frenchman Edwin Clain came from a game behind to defeat No.3 seed Muhammad Asim Khan. Clain lost the opener 11-2, but responded well to win the next three games to advance to the last day of the tournament.

He will now take on England’s Tom Walsh, who downed Egypt’a Ibrahim Elkabbani in a hotly-contested battle. He is one of six Englishmen into the Qualifying Finals, and they will all feature in different matches on Friday.

Ben Coleman is another of those, as he celebrated his birthday with a victory. The Englishman overcame Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong in straight games to advance to Friday’s last day. 

“I’m really pleased to get through both matches in three. I’m feeling relaxed and positive on court and my eyes are fully set on a place in Chicago. It’s been a great week and I’m excited about tomorrow,” Coleman said.

Top seed Curtis Malik was another to advance, as he came from behind to overcome the challenge of Israeli No.1 Daniel Poleshchuk. James Peach was another Englishman to win in five, downing Malaysia’s Addeen Idrakie to book his place in the Qualifying Finals.

“Two tough games for sure. I was in difficult situations in both,” Peach admitted. 

“Today I just had to stay strong and strangely enough, once I was 2-0 down, I started playing some good squash, feeling good with my touch and accuracy. Happy to be through, but it’s going to be tough tomorrow.”

Simon Herbert, who featured as one of the wildcards at the British Open, also made his way into the Qualifying Finals. Finnlay Withington was the last Englishman to make it through, as he defeated Spain’s Ivan Perez in the last match of the day’s play.

“Yes, two tough games, it’s always hard going on last it doesn’t help your preparations,” said Withington. 

“It will be tough against Ivan, I saw him slotting in a few nicks in his match, but I’m looking forward to the chance of getting a spot in the Chicago draw.”

Elsewhere, former World No.7 Mohamed Abouelghar safely advanced to the Qualifying Finals. He defeated Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue in straight games to book his spot in Friday’s final day. Malaysia’s Ivan Yuen, India’s Abhay Singh and the Czech Republic’s Martin Svec were the other seeds to advance.

The finals of the PSA World Championships Qualifying Event will take place at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham on Friday, April 14. All 12 matches will be streamed live on the PSA Challenger Tour YouTube channel, with the 12 winners securing their spots in the draw for the 2022-2023 PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family.

Men’s Second Round Results: PSA World Championships Qualifying Event
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 3-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (46m)
Yannik Omlor (GER) bt Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (45m)
[6] Martin Svec (CZE) bt Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 (42m)
Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10 (46m)
[5] Abhay Singh (IND) bt Ivan Perez (ESP) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (52m)
Ben Coleman (ENG) bt Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 12-10 (35m)
[2] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (31m)
James Peach (ENG) bt [7] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 3-2: 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 (57m)
Edwin Clain (FRA) bt [3] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-1: 2-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (40m)
Tom Walsh (ENG) bt Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-6 (65m)
[4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 3-2: 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 (54m)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Edmon Lopez (ESP) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 3-11, 11-4 (36m)

Men’s Third Round Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) v Yannik Omlor (GER)
[6] Martin Svec (CZE) v Simon Herbert (ENG)
[5] Abhay Singh (IND) v Ben Coleman (ENG)
[2] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v James Peach (ENG)
Edwin Clain (FRA) v Tom Walsh (ENG)
[4] Ivan Yuen (MAS) v Finnlay Withington (ENG)

Women’s Second Round Results: PSA World Championships Qualifying Event
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt [1] Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-1: 2-11, 17-15, 11-4, 12-10 (38m)
[8] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) bt Ching Hei Fung (HKG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (39m)
Ainaa Amani (MAS) bt [2] Saskia Beinhard (GER) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (23m)
Katerina Tycova (GER) bt Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 3-1: 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6 (47m)
[3] Aira Azman (MAS) bt Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (20m)
Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 (27m)
[4] Zeina Zein (EGY) bt Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10 (36m)
Tanvi Khanna (IND) bt Alison Thomson (SCO) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (23m)
Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt [5] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 3-2: 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-2 (46m)
Asia Harris (ENG) bt Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7 (57m)
Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt [6] Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-1: 5-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (32m)
Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) bt Kiera Marshall (ENG) 3-2: 7-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 (45m)

Women’s Third Round Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 14
Alicia Mead (ENG) v [8] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP)
Ainaa Amani (MAS) v Katerina Tycova (GER)
[3] Aira Azman (MAS) v Menna Hamed (EGY)
[4] Zeina Zein (EGY) v Tanvi Khanna (IND)
Malak Khafagy (EGY) v Asia Harris (ENG)
Chan Yiwen (MAS) v Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS)