King sets up quarter-final clash with rival Perry

New Zealand and British veterans to meet in last eight at HK Squash Open

Joelle King resumes the defence of her Hong Kong Squash Open title today, riding a 14-match winning streak into her quarter-final clash with Britain’s Sarah-Jane Perry.

No strangers to each other, the two veterans have clashed repeatedly on court since 2014, and King holds the upper hand with an 11-2 record, including beating Perry in the semi-finals on her way to winning in Hong Kong in 2018.

The 34-year-old New Zealander, who has not dropped a game this week, was in fine form yesterday, beating 19-year-old Katie Malliff at the Hong Kong Squash Centre. A tight first game aside, which King won 12-10, she was largely untroubled in the next two, which she took 11-4, 11-5.

The 32-year-old Perry meanwhile advanced courtesy of a victory over Lisa Aitken, who she beat in four games. King said she would have to be ready for a player she last beat in the final of the Manchester Open in April.

“She [Perry] is more in my age bracket and a quality player,” King said. “I just have to be ready for tomorrow.”

Nouran Gohar, the women’s world No 1, faces Japan’s Satomi Watanabe, who is ranked 39 places below her but beat Rowan Elaraby, the world No 7, in the last 16. “It’s a good sign to have more different players coming in the tour, even Katie [Malliff] had two upsets along the way,” King said.

“It is important that we have as much diversity as we can, the tour needs different people playing the game, different cultures, and hopefully, with someone like Satomi, we can take the tour to Japan, who knows, but ... it is a good time for the women’s game.”

Elsewhere, home favourite Tong Tsz-wing was no match for Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini, losing 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 in 23 minutes. El Sherbini now faces Nele Gilis of Belgium in the last eight.

“To be honest, I was a little nervous and scared when I saw so many spectators on the court, and I haven’t prepared myself best for this environment,” Tong said.

On the men’s side, defending champ Mohamed ElShorbagy faces Mazen Hesham in today’s quarter-finals. “When it comes to the quarters, the level is really close, every match could be a final,” ElShorbagy said. “Mazen is a great player, and he just won the Malaysian Open last week, so he is in great form himself.”

In the day’s final match, Hong Kong’s Lau Tsz-kwan took the first game 14-12 against world No 2 Paul Coll of New Zealand, before the dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist rattled off the next three, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, to win in 49 minutes.