Johannesburg Open QF: Jadishkumar Downs Top Seed Preece

The quarters of the Assore/Balwin Johannesburg Open threw up some surprises, but none bigger than Malaysia’s Yasshmita Jadishkumar getting the better of the top seed of the women’s tournament, Jenny Preece, to make it through to the last four.

The 17-year-old Malaysian took on the tournament’s top seed for a place in the semi-finals, and she seemed in control throughout the majority of the contest, running out into a two-game lead. Preece won the third but a tie-break win in the fourth secured victory for Jadishkumar. She will now face wildcard Cheyna Wood in the last four, after the South African downed Awanda Malinga in straight games.

The other women’s semi-final will see No.2 seed Teagan Leigh Roux and the unseeded Mariska Wiese go head-to-head , after the pair overcame the challenges of Pakistan’s Anam Mustafa Aziz and South Africa’s Tayla Diepenbroek, respectively.

In the men’s event, South Africa’s Christo Potgeiter caused the only upset of the quarter finals, as he defeated Iran’s No.4 seed Sami Ghasedabadi in a four-game battle, fighting from behind after losing the first on a tie-break to win 3-1. He will face top seed Dewald van Niekerk in the last four, while the other semi-final will see South Africa’s Jean-Pierre Brits and Iran’s Sepehr Etemadpoor meet.

The semis of the Assore/Balwin Johannesburg Open will take place at the Parkview Squash Centre on Saturday, June 4, with the winners of today’s matches advancing to Sunday’s finals.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Assore/Balwin Johannesburg Open
[1] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bt [5] Blessing Muhwati (ZIM) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (21m)
[7] Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt [4] Sami Ghasedabadi (IRI) 3-1: 11-13, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) bt [8] Ruan Olivier (RSA) 3-0: 11-7, 15-13, 11-3 (32m)
[2] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt [6] Tristen Worth (RSA) 3-0: 11-6, 15-13, 11-5 (24m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, June 4
[1] Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) v [7] Christo Potgieter (RSA)
[3] Sepehr Etemadpoor (IRI) v [2] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Assore/Balwin Johannesburg Open
[2] Teagan Leigh Roux (RSA) bt [6] Anam Mustafa Aziz (PAK) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (9m)
Mariska Weise (RSA) bt Tayla Diepenbroek (RSA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 (16m)
[WC] Cheyna Wood (RSA) bt Awanda Malinga (RSA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-4, 11-0 (21m)
[5] Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) bt [1] Jenny Preece (RSA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11 (27m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, June 4
[2] Teagan Leigh Roux (RSA) v Mariska Weise (RSA)
[WC] Cheyna Wood (RSA) v [5] Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS)