Perry Springs Surprise As US Open Qualification Concludes

Two-years after retiring from the PSA World Tour, Ireland’s Madeline Perry sprung one of the biggest surprises of the day to defeat World No.29 Coline Aumard in the final round of qualification at the 2017 U.S Open Presented by Macquarie Investment Management and secure a place in the main draw of the PSA World Series tournament.

40-year-old Perry, competing in her first event in almost 18 months, recovered from a 1-2 game deficit to come through and defeat Aumard 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 11-5 and set up a compelling first round match with American hopeful Olivia Blatchford – whom she defeated in two previous encounters in 2014 and 2015.

Meanwhile there was also success for Canadian Hollie Naughton as she prevailed in a similarly tough five-game battle with second seeded Fiona Moverly to claim an unexpected debut appearance in the first round of the U.S Open to face Egyptian Raneem El Welily. Compatriot Samantha Cornett will also appear in the main draw for just the third time in her career after an impressive 3-0 win over Belgian Nele Gilis.

Unseeded Amanda Landers-Murphy of New Zealand was the other surprise qualifier in the women’s draw while in the Men’s event Frenchman Lucas Serme put in a highly impressive display to down second seeded Nicolas Mueller 3-0 in just 23 minutes – earning a place to take on Ali Farag in the first round.

Another unseeded player, Egyptian Mazen Hesham, followed up his first round win over number twelve seed Raphael Kandra with a 3-0 win over number six seed Declan James. Hesham will now face Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez in one of the stand out encounters of round one.

Arturo Salazar, Adrian Waller and Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi also overcame the seedings to secure their main draw berths.

Qualification Finals – Men
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [6] Declan James (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[5] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [16] Todd Harrity (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt [11] Mohamed Reda (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 0-11, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
[13] Lucas Serme (FRA) bt [2] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (23m)
[9] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt [3] Leo Au (HKG) 3-2: 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7 (73m)
[4] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [15] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 14-12 (47m)
[10] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [8] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 3-2: 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (61m)
[14] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 (49m)

Qualification Finals – Women
[1] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [12] Samantha Teran (MEX) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7 (64m)
[7] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (33m)
Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) bt [13] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 3-1: 13-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3 (35m)
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [4] Coline Aumard (FRA) 3-2: 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 11-5 (52m)
[14] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (31m)
[10] Kanzy Emad El Defrawy (EGY) bt Nikki Todd (CAN) 3-2: 11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-2 (47m)
[6] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt [9] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 13-11 (40m)
[11] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [2] Fiona Moverley (ENG) 3-2: 11-4, 5-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9 (44m)

First Round Draw – Men’s 2017 U.S. Open
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Simon Rösner (GER) v [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [5] James Willstrop (ENG)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v [3] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[4] Ali Farag (EGY) v [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi
[WC] Christopher Gordon (USA) v [8] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
Max Lee (HKG) v Diego Elias (PER)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [Q] Chris Simpson (ENG)
Paul Coll (NZL) v [1] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

First Round Draw – Women’s 2017 U.S. Open
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[Q] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v [14] Victoria Lust (ENG)
[10] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [Q] Kanzy Emad El Defrawy (EGY)
Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) v [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[6] Nicol David (MAS) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Joey Chan (HKG) v [9] Annie Au (HKG)
[12] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [Q] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [4] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) v [WC] Haley Mendez (USA)
[Q] Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) v [11] Joelle King (NZL)
[16] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [Q] Madeline Perry (IRL)
[Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) v [8] Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [Q] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL)
Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) v [13] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[15] Tesni Evans (WAL) v Heba El Torky (EGY)
[Q] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)