City Tattersalls Group Australian Open 2024 – Day One: Evening Roundup

Spencer Lovejoy ended hopes of a first-ever appearance in the second round of a PSA World Tour event for wildcard Rhys Dowling.

The Australian – making his World Tour debut on home court – came close to drawing first blood but Lovejoy narrowly took the opening game 12-10.

However Dowling hit back in the second as he levelled the match, taking the second 11-8, before Lovejoy got himself back in control as he pushed on in the third and fourth games to reach round two.

“It was a tough first couple of games,” he said.

“I’ve never played Rhys [Dowling] before and it’s always difficult playing a new opponent, trying to sort out your game plan and figuring out what to do.

“He was really tough in the first two [games], and honestly they could have gone either way. After the second game I figured out how to play against him – slow down the pace a little bit, don’t give him too much to feed off of as he likes to play fast and expose him a bit more in the front. I was happy with the way I played in the third and the fourth.”

Tang Ming Hong came out on top in a five-game battle with Mohammad Syafiq Kamal, which was settled after an hour of play.

Tang’s 2-1 lead was pegged back to 2-2 by Kamal, but the Hong Konger was back in the driving seat as he claimed the fifth 11-5.

Elsewhere, Wong Chi Him defeated Addeen Idrakie 3-1, while Noor Zaman ousted tournament wildcard Dylan Molinaro in straight sets.

In the women’s event, Sarah Cardwell triumphed in the all-Australian battle with Alex Haydon, taking a 3-2 victory over her fellow countrywoman.

Cardwell’s 14-12 win in the opener was cancelled out by Haydon winning the second 11-6 before Cardwell regained her lead again in the third.

Haydon roared back once again and had three match balls in the fifth, but all three were saved by Cardwell. Another match ball chance for Haydon was squandered, as Cardwell converted her opportunity to advance.

Hong Kong’s World No.104 Ching Hei Fung caused an upset at the beginning of the evening session, dispatching World No.74 Nadia Pfister in straight games.

In a close first game, Ching was victorious as she edged the tiebreak 14-12, and the Hong Konger completed the impressive victory with 11-8 and 11-6 wins in the second and third games.

Yiwen Chan cruised into round two after downing tournament wildcard Erin Classen 3-0.

In what was their first-ever meeting on the PSA World Tour, Chan had the win wrapped up in just 18 minutes over the young Australian.

Meanwhile, young Egyptian Haya Ali overcame former World No.1 Rachael Grinham 3-0. The 19-year-old meets fellow Egyptian starlet Amina Orfi in round two.

Results

Men’s:
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [WC] Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 3-0: 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 (32m)
Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt [WC] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 3-1: 12-10, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3 (53m)
Wong Chi Him (HKG) bt Addeen Idrakie (MAS) 3-1: 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 (53m)
Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 3-2: 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5 (62m)

Women’s:
Ching Hei Fung (HKG) bt Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-0: 14-12, 11-8, 11-6 (37m)
Yiwen Chan (MAS) bt [WC] Erin Classen (AUS) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (18m)
Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-2: 14-12, 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12 (63m)
Haya Ali (EGY) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 (16m)