Cleveland Classic Day One Round-Up: Alves Battles Back To Reach Round Two

2 February 2023

The Cleveland Classic 2023 began in earnest from the Cleveland Racquet Club, as Melissa Alves fought back from two games down to defeat Aifa Azman in five games.

In just their second meeting on the PSA World Tour, Alves took the first game 11-9, but Azman provided the perfect response, storming back to take the second and third games 11-4 and 11-9, respectively.

However World No.22 Alves showed great determination to get a foothold back in the match, clinching the fourth 11-6 to force a decider.

Azman, who went 4-1 up in the fifth, saw her advantage evaporate as Alves proved to be too strong – taking the game 11-7 and setting up a second round meeting with defending champion and No.8 seed, Georgina Kennedy.

“It was a tough one. The last time I played her (Aifa Azman) it was in five and I knew it was going to be a battle, very physical and there’s a lot of contacts when we play each other,” said Alves.

“I knew I had to stay focused with my game, there was a lot of contacts and I probably hurt myself a bit and I was struggling with that, but I was trying to focus on the game and trying to win today which was what today was about.

“I tried to play the best squash I could, stay focused on the game and not about the contacts. It’s part of it but I’m happy I’m through.”

Emily Whitlock and Lucy Beecroft’s first round clash also had to be settled in five games, with the former coming out on top, winning 12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9.

“I was lucky to win that! Lucy (Beecroft) is a really good player and I just had to battle my way through it,” Whitlock said.

“I should have won it in four. I was up in the fourth and I went, but my mentality in the fifth was that she had a 7-3 lead, like I did in the fourth, and if she can come back then so can I. So I was never in doubt.”

Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho came back from one game down to win 3-1 against Hana Ramadan of Egypt, while Hollie Naughton overcame Mariam Metwally 3-1.

American duo Olivia Clyne and Sabrina Sobhy cruised to round two with straight set wins over Zeina Mickawy and Joshna Chinappa, respectively, and Alexandra Fuller and Jasmine Hutton also notched 3-0 wins to book a second round spot.

Round Two of the Cleveland Classic 2023 will be played on Thursday February 2 at the Cleveland Racquet Club, with the action from court one streamed live on psaworldtour.com

For more on the Cleveland Classic, you can visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Results – Round One: Cleveland Classic 2023

Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (28m)

Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 12-14, 11-8, 11-8 (42m)

Olivia Clyne (USA) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (23m)

Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 12-10, 11-3 (30m)

Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)

Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 3-0: 11-7, 15-13, 11-0 (28m)

Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-2: 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (56m)

Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9 (63m)

Draw – Round Two: To be played February 2

[1] Joelle King (NZL) v Jasmine Hutton (ENG)