Mixed day for Kiwis at NZ Open

The big names are on court for the second round of the New Zealand Squash Open in Tauranga with plenty of pressure on reputations as the knock out tournament gets serious.

World No 2 Paul Coll faces American Timothy Brownell at 59 in the rankings at 6.45pm while fifth ranked Joelle King is at 7.45pm at the main Trustpower Arena venue against Australian Jessica Turnbull ranked 70th at 7.45pm. 

 

Earlier in the day former Egyptian great, now playing for England, Mohamed ElShorbagy the second seed takes on England’s Charlie Lee, while third seed and world No 10 Victor Crouin of France makes his first appearance at the tournament against Hong Kong’s Henry Leung. 

 

Women’s second seed Sarah-Jane Perry (England) plays Tomato Ho (Hong Kong) and third seed Salma Hamy faces Japan’s Satomi Watanabe while Nele Gilis from Belgium, the fourth seed opens proceedings at 1pm against Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong. 

 

Meanwhile day one had mixed results for the two Kiwis on court as wildcard Kaitlyn Watts was put through to the second round of the after her first round opponent, Scotland’s 32-year-old Lisa Aitken, withdrew citing injury without hitting a ball.  

 

Aitken had spent time training at the Devoy Club in the Bay of Plenty in the past, but a foot injury put paid to her making an appearance at her old club.

 

Edinburgh-based Watts, 21  a wildcard from Palmerston North, now plays Welsh sixth seed, Tesni Evans ranked 14 in the world while Watts, is 88. They play at 2.45pm at the Devoy Club.

 

In the late match at the main venue Lwamba Chileshe was defeated by Canadian David Baillargeon in four games 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-1 in 52 minutes.

 

Baillargeon showed a little bit of feistiness later in the game as Chileshe ranked 97th forced his way back into the contest. However the Canadian eventually controlled his play to force errors in his opponents game and now plays fourth seed and 13th ranked Miguel Rodriguez (Colombia) in the second round.