WWC Update: Sobhy Soars Past Craig

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United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy got her Naza PSA Women’s World Championship campaign off to the perfect start with a powerful 3-0 win against New Zealand’s Megan Craig in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sobhy, appearing in her first World Championship main draw since 2009, played with poise and power to outmanoeuvre Craig and she romped to victory in the opening game after some excellent play in the front corners.

Craig rallied and came out fighting in the second, soon rising to a 4-1 lead as she looked to gain a foothold in the match. However, Sobhy came storming back to win 10 of the next 11 points on offer to double her advantage and her dominance extended into game three to record the win courtesy of an 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 scoreline. Sobhy will take on Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb in the second round after she made a triumphant return from a six-month injury absence by beating Hong Kong’s Liu Tsz-Ling.

“I’m happy to win in three and hopefully I can carry the momentum on and get sharper and sharper,” said Sobhy.

“The conditions are tough. You come here after all this fitness training and then you’re tired from the first rally, so you’re just hoping that your opponent is more tired than you.

“I’ll be approaching it [the match against El Tayeb] the same as I would any other match. She’s obviously very crafty, tricky and talented so I’ve just got to be ready to move forward and ready to retrieve all of her nicks and other shots that she is going to try to put away.”

Result – First Round: Naza PSA Women’s World Championship
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Megan Craig (NZL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (23m)

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