SQUASH: Seeking a revival

By Devinder Singh | devinder@nst.com.my

MATAMATA OPEN After a run of poor results, Wee Wern wants to turn things around

LOW Wee Wern leads the Malaysian assault at the Matamata Open in New Zealand today while Delia Arnold will be looking to put a spate of poor results behind her.

Having lost to World No 1 Nicol David at the Australian Open last week, Wee Wern hopes to bounce back with a good run in Matamata.

Ranked 11th in the world, Wee Wern made the final of the Des Pyramides Open in Paris to halt a run of four consecutive first-round exits before reaching the second round in Canberra.

Wee Wern, 22, opens today against qualifier Tesni Evans of Wales, who just a week ago gave Nicol a scare by taking a game off the six-time world champion.

But to advance in the tournament which features nine of the world's top 20 players, the fifth-seeded Wee Wern will need to secure a first win in seven years against Hong Kong's Annie Au in a likely quarter-final meeting.

National No 2 Wee Wern has not beaten the World No 6 since the 2005 World Junior Championships in Belgium, her only win against Annie in seven meetings going back to their first clash at junior level in 2003.

"I've got a qualifier tomorrow (today) and it won't be easy," said Wee Wern in an e-mail to Timesport.

"Players like Tesni and (2010 world junior champion) Amanda Sobhy are in the qualifiers as well, so it will be tough.

"But of course I hope to make it through and play Annie.

"To be honest, it's very tough playing Annie in these conditions where it's cold and the ball doesn't bounce.

"The courts are very different from back home.

"I prefer it hot and bouncy so that her drops won't die in the corner as much," added Wee Wern, who won the last of her five WSA Tour titles at the China Open last year.

Delia meets New Zealand's eighth seed Jaclyn Hawkes in the first round looking to recapture the form she displayed in winning the Delaware State Open in February.

Since then, World No 22 Delia was ousted in the qualifying round of the Kuala Lumpur Open, the British Open first round, the Victorian Open second round where she was the top seed and the Australian Open first round.

Ireland's World No 5 Madeline Perry is the top seed, followed by Annie (second), former world champion Rachael Grinham of Australia (third) and New Zealand's Joelle King (fourth).

SQUASH: Seeking a revival

MATAMATA OPEN After a run of poor results, Wee Wern wants to turn things around

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