Perry survives scare at worlds
KENILWORTH star and England’s top-ranked player Sarah-jane Perry narrowly avoided a third-round exit at the PSA World Championships in Cairo, as she defeated USA’S world No.24 Sabrina Sobhy in five games at the Club S Allegria.
Action took place across two glass courts for the last time at this event and it was once again the Club S Allegria that provided the drama as Perry was put through her paces by Sobhy to reach the quarterfinals in Cairo.
The American scored a huge win in round two against compatriot and No.10 seed Olivia Fiechter to reach the last 16 and continued that momentum in a tightly contested battle with Perry as she took the first game.
Perry was able to use her experience to grind out the win though as she closed out 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 2-11, 11-8 in 57 minutes to reach the last eight at the PSA World Championships for the fourth time in her career.
“For some reason, I have a good record in five-setters,” said Perry. “I’m not quite sure why, maybe because I just refuse to lose a lot of the time, I had no right to win that
I had no right to win that match today. She wasn’t giving me many opportunities so I was just taking what I could get really. Sarah-jane Perry
match today. She wasn’t giving me many opportunities so I was just taking what I could get really.”
Perry will face reigning world champion Nour El Sherbini tonight for the 16th time in their careers, after the latter comfortably prevailed against Belgium’s world No.13 Tinne Gilis.
El Sherbini and Gilis have enjoyed some memorable five-game matches recently, but their match did not follow that pattern as El Sherbini was in top form in despatching the 24-year-old 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in just 30 minutes.
“I’m glad she wasn’t on her finest form, everyone knows what happened in the last two meetings,” said five-time world champion El Sherbini. “I learned from those matches and tried to be prepared and mentally ready for this match. It was very important for me to win 3-0.”