Whitlock upsets Waters in second round

PETALING JAYA: World No. 15 Emily Whitlock upset the seedings to earn a breakthrough at the British Open.

The 23-year-old Englishwoman defeated compatriot and world No. 10 Alison Waters 11-4,11-7, 11-9 in the second round at the Airco Arena in Hull.

Whitlock, who is competing in her seventh British meet, had never made it past the first round in her six previous attempts.

But on Wednesday, she played intelligently to stun the 33-year-old Waters in just 31 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

“I just didn’t think I would win and I’m pretty chuffed to have pulled it off,” said Whitlock.

“I’ve beaten Alison once before. But it was during practice and beating her in a tournament just feels amazing.

“And to win 3-0 is just a joke. I’ve never won a first-round match here before and now I’ve won two ... it’s a bonus and it’s been a good week.”

However, her dream run will be cut short when she faces world No. 1 and defending champion Nour El Sherbini of Egypt for a place in the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old Nour, who has yet to win a title since the Carol Weymuller Open in New York last October, powered past Hong Kong’s Annie Au 11-4, 11-8, 11-6.

In other results, 2013 winner Laura Massaro crushed Egyptian qualifier Mayar Hany 11-5, 11-1, 11-9 to book her last eight spot.

The fifth seeded Englishwoman takes on third seed Raneem El Welily, who downed India’s Joshna Chinappa 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.

In the men’s event, world No. 1 Mohamed El Shorbagy stayed on track for his third straight British crown after beating England’s Daryl Selby 12-10, 11-4, 11-7.

He will face seventh seed Ali Farag in an all-Egyptian clash.