Nash Cup QF: Zein Continue Knockout Run In London

The Nash Cup continued with the quarter finals on Thursday evening at the London Squash Club in Ontario, Canada, where Egypt’s Zeina Zein backed up her win over the top seed to make it through to the last four.

The 17-year-old Egyptian got the better of Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica, the World No.46, in the second round, and that set her up with a clash with No.7 seed Marta Dominguez Fernandez in the last eight of the Challenger 20 level competition in Canada.

Once again, the World No.94 did not look troubled throughout the contest, and despite all three games being close, she was able to come out on the right side eat time. Zein took the first game 11-8, before securing victory in three with 11-9 scorelines in both the second and third games. She will now face England’s Lucy Beecroft in the semis after the tournament’s No.3 seed overcame compatriot Torrie Malik in straight games in the last eight.

The other women’s semi-final will see Scotland’s Georgia Adderley take on the USA’s Haley Mendez. The American, who is the highest-seeded player left following Mackevica’s early exit, downed Switzerland’s Ambre Allinckx to reach the semis, while the Scot overcame the challenge of the USA’s Marina Stefanoni in four games.

There were no surprises in the men’s event on Thursday, but Hnog Kong’s Henry Leung had to go the distance to get the better of Argentinian No.1 Landro Romiglio, winning a fifth game tie-break 12-10 to secure the win after 81 minutes of hard-fought action. The Hongkonger will meet Curtis Malik in the semis after the Englishman got the better of American Andrew Douglas in four games.

Top seed Nathan Lake continued his smooth run through the tournament, overcoming the USA’s Christopher Gordon in straight games to advance, and he will now face Spaniard Edmon Lopez after he got the better of the Czech Republic’s Daniel Mekbib in straight games.

The semi-finals of the Nash Cup will take place on Friday, September 16 at the London Squash Club in Ontario, Canada, and all the action will be streamed live on the Challenger Tour’s YouTube channel. You can also keep up to date with live scores from the tournament on the PSA World Tour’s website.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Nash Cup
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [7] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
Edmon Lopez (ESP) bt Daniel Mekbib (CZE) 3-0: 12-10, 11-2, 11-6 (32m)
[8] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Andrew Douglas (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (49m)
[2] Henry Leung (HKG) bt [6] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10 (81m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, September 16
[1] Nathan Lake (ENG) v Edmon Lopez (ESP)
[8] Curtis Malik (ENG) v [2] Henry Leung (HKG)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Nash Cup
Zeina Zein (EGY) bt [7] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (35m)
[3] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (29m)
[4] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt [5] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8 (51m)
[2] Haley Mendez (USA) bt Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, September 16
Zeina Zein (EGY) v [3] Lucy Beecroft (ENG)
[4] Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [2] Haley Mendez (USA)