Kippax’s dream week in Hull earns her clash with defending champion

The 31-year-old, from Halifax, caused a surprise in Tuesday’s first round of the women’s draw in Hull when she saved five match points before going on to defeat 10th seed Jenny Duncalf, from Harrogate, in five games.

Again Kippax found herself trailing in her second round encounter with Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes, coming from behind to book her place in the last eight by winning 15-17, 11-7, 13-15, 11-3, 12-10 in a gruelling 84-minute epic encounter.

“It was a long one,” admitted Kippax, who will now face defending champion Laura Massaro in tomorrow’s quarter-finals. “The first game seemed to go on forever but it was a truly great match.

“It’s my first ever quarter final in the event, so I’m thrilled.

“It’s even nicer to play well in your home country.”

World No 2 Massaro earned her place in the next phase by beating Hong Kong’s Annie Au 11-7, 11-4, 11-6.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Leeds’ based Emma Beddoes – fresh from her surprise win over 13th seed Nour El Sherbini from Egypt on Tuesday – found her progress ended when she lost 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 11-9 to Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern, the seventh seed.

In the men’s draw, three-time winner and No 1 seed Nick Matthew, from Sheffield, was given another tough workout by fellow Englishman Daryl Selby before prevailing 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4.

“It’s a huge relief to get the win,” said Matthew following the 76-minute battle. “Daryl is a dangerous opponent and has been throughout my career.

“We usually have very attritional matches but it was a dead court and we both adapted.

“Fortunately I got the better start in the fifth game and and just saw it through.”

Matthew would have been expecting to meet eighth seed and former world No 1 Karim Darwich in Friday’s quarter-finals, but the Egyptian was beaten 12-10, 11-6, 2-11, 2-11, 11-9 by his compatriot Fares Dessouki, one of the event’s qualifiers.

Wednesday results

Women’s Round Two

[7] Low Wee Wern (Mas) bt Emma Beddoes (Eng) 11/9, 11/9, 6/11, 6/11, 11/9 (76m)

[3] Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bt [14] Kasey Brown (Aus) 11/5, 11/6, 11/3 (20m)

Sarah Kippax (Eng) bt Nicollette Fernandes (Guy) 15/17, 11/7, 13/15, 11/3, 12/10 (84m)

[2] Laura Massaro (Eng) bt [9] Annie Au (HKG) 11/7, 11/4 11/6 (31m)

Men’s Round Two

[Q] Mathieu Castagnet (Fra) bt Adrian Grant (Eng) 7/11, 11/7, 6/11, 11/9, 11/6 (90m)

[4] Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Tarek Momen (Egy) 11/2, 11/3, 11/9 (50m)

[1] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Daryl Selby (Eng) 11/7, 10/12, 11/3, 5/11, 11/4 (76m)

[Q] Fares Dessouki bt [8] Karim Darwish (Egy) 12/10, 11/6, 2/11, 2/11, 11/9 (62m)