Equinox Women’s Open RD2: Aboelkheir and Garcia Gatecrash Last Eight

Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Mexico’s Diana Garcia have made their way into the quarter finals of the Challenger 10 level Equinox Women’s Boston Open after they both defeated seeded opposition in the second round.

The Egyptian, who does not turn 16 until March, came up against the tournament’s No.3 seed, World No.46 Liu Tsz-Ling from Hong Kong, and she took the first game on a crucial tie-break.

After losing the second, Aboelkheir, who already has two wins on Tour to her name, took the third 11-8, before having to fight her way into the fourth, eventually taking it on another tie-break, 14-12, to move through to the quarter finals, where she will face Frenchwoman Marie Stephan.

The other surprise result of the second round saw Mexico’s Diana Garcia take out a two-time winner on Tour last year, Polish No.1 Karina Tyma. The Mexican, who is playing for only the seventh time since the Tour resumed in September 2020, looked in complete control throughout the contest.

Garcia currently sits 80 places below the Pole in the World Rankings at World No.144, but won in three games, needing just 25 minutes to book her spot in the quarter finals in Boston, where she will face No.2 seed Tze Lok Ho of Hong Kong.

Elsewhere, there is bound to be an Englishwoman in the last four, as top seed Lucy Turmel and compatriot Julianne Courtice are set for battle in the quarter finals. The other match of the last eight on Friday will see Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong take on England’s Lily Taylor.

Second Round Results: Equinox Women’s Boston Open
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Anna Kimberley (ENG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 (21m)
[5] Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 9-11, 11-2, 11-7 (35m)
[6] Marie Stephan (FRA) bt [WC] Noureen Khalifa (EGY) 3-1: 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (38m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [3] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 3-1: 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 14-12 (43m)
[4] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 3-2: 11-1, 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 (48m)
[7] Lily Taylor (ENG) bt Sohaila Omar (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (23m)
Diana Garcia (MEX) bt [8] Karina Tyma (POL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 (25m)
[2] Tze Lok Ho (HKG) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-0: 20-18, 11-9, 11-6 (28m)

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, January 28
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [5] Julianne Courtice (ENG)
[6] Marie Stephan (FRA) v Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY)
[4] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v [7] Lily Taylor (ENG)
Diana Garcia (MEX) v [2] Tze Lok Ho (HKG)