NICOL David overcame a slight hiccup to advance to the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals yesterday but it was the end of the road for national teammate Low Wee Wern.
The top seeded Nicol secured a fourth win in as many meetings against England’s
Emma Beddoes after an 11-4, 11-6, 8-11,
11-7 victory in a 46-minute second round match.
Fifth seed Wee Wern, however, lost a gruelling 74-minute encounter against Malaysian Open runner-up Nour El Tayeb of Egypt 11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5 to become the highest seed to exit the tournament so far.
Nicol has won the last eight Hong Kong Open titles and also her maiden World Open crown in 2005 in the former British colony.
Yesterday’s win extended Nicol’s unbeaten streak in Hong Kong to 47 matches though that run could be tested in the last eight today.
Nicol, who was beaten in the Malaysian Open semi-finals last week, will meet rising local hope Joey Chan (pic), who upset seventh seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt 11-8, 13-11, 11-7.
“Started well and kept to it at the end to win 3-1 after Emma took the third (game),” Nicol posted on Facebook.
“Playing Joey Chan tomorrow in the semis. Always great having (coach) Liz (Irving) here in HK.”
Nicol and Joey last met at the Asian Team Championship in May, also in Hong Kong, with the World No 1 winning in four games en route to leading Malaysia to the title.
Nicol also beat Joey at the 2012 Hong Kong Open and the 2009 World Games.
Joey is the sole Hong Kong player remaining after sixth seed Annie Au was upset 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 by former world champion Rachael Grinham of Australia.
Second seed Laura Massaro of England eliminated Egyptian qualifier Nouran Gohar 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, third seed Alison Waters won an all-English clash with Sarah-Jane Perry 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 while French fourth seed Camille Serme recovered from two games down to beat England’s Jenny Duncalf 11-13, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3, 12-10.