North Coast Open Day 2: Four Cause Upsets To Reach Quarters

On a long second day at the Costa North Coast Open, which saw 16 matches played at the Coffs Harbour Squash & Swim Centre in Coffs Harbour, Australia, there was a quartet of surprise results, including the men’s No.2 seed being dumped out of the competition.

Hong Kong’s Matthew Lai was the man to do so on Thursday evening, as he put in a commanding performance to overcome Pakistan’s World No.57 Muhammad Asim Khan. Despite sitting more than 200 places below the Pakistani in the rankings, Lai was in control throughout, and although he lost the third game, he recovered to win the fourth and take the victory 3-1, moving through to the last eight where he will now face Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi.

The other two surprise results in terms of seeding in the men’s event came in the top half of the draw, as Australia’s Rex Hedrick and India’s Abhay Singh overcame Australia’s Joseph White and Hong Kong’s Chi Him Wong, respectively. Hedrick will now play top seed Henry Leung in the quarter finals.

In the opening day of the women’s event, Switzerland’s Celine Walser secured the only shock win of the first round, as she defeated former World No.1 Rachael Grinham in straight games. The World No.105 needed just 21 minutes to do so, winning 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 to advance to the last eight, where she will play top seed Chan Sin Yuk for a place in the semi-finals.

The third day of the Costa North Coast Open will take place on Friday, August 19, with the quarter finals of the Challenger 10 competition taking place at the Coffs Harbour Squash & Swim Centre in Australia.

Men’s Second Round Results: Costa North Coast Open
[1] Henry Leung (HKG) bt Nicholas Calvert (AUS) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 (30m)
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [8] Joseph White (AUS) 3-0: 15-13, 11-3, 11-5 (43m)
Abhay Singh (IND) bt [5] Chi Him Wong (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (40m)
[4] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt [WC] Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-2: 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7 (57m)
[3] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Harley Lam (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
[7] Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Rhys Dowling (AUS) 3-1: 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 (39m)
[6] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt Chung Yat Long (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (21m)
Matthew Lai (HKG) bt [2] Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-1: 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 (44m)

Men’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, August 18
[1] Henry Leung (HKG) v Rex Hedrick (AUS)
Abhay Singh (IND) v [4] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL)
[3] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) v [7] Tang Ming Hong (HKG)
[6] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) v Matthew Lai (HKG)

Women’s First Round Results: Costa North Coast Open
[1] Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) bt Noor ul Huda (PAK) 3-0: 11-1, 11-0, 11-5 (14m)
Celine Walser (SUI) bt [7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-9 (21m)
[6] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt Aiman Shahbaz (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-2, 11-1 (14m)
[4] Alex Haydon (AUS) bt Colette Sultana (MLT) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4 (31m)
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt Tayla Mounter (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (13m)
[8] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) bt Urwashi Joshi (IND) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 (27m)
[5] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Yasshmita Jadishkumar (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (19m)
[2] Grace Gear (ENG) bt Ching Hei Fung (HKG) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 (36m)

Women’s Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, August 18
[1] Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) v Celine Walser (SUI)
[6] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) v [4] Alex Haydon (AUS)
[3] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) v [8] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP)
[5] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) v [2] Grace Gear (ENG)