Nafiizwan turns on the heat to beat Rodriguez in first round

Malaysian qualifier Nafiizwan Adnan upset world No. 11 Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia in the men’s first round of the US Open squash championships.

World No. 33 Nafiizwan won 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 at the Drexel University in Philadelphia on Saturday to reach the second round for the first time in the championships. He will next face either South African Steve Coppinger or Alan Clyne of Scotland for a place in the quarter-finals.

It was sweet revenge for 30-year-old Nafiizwan as he was beaten by Rodriguez in the first round of the El Gouna International Open in Egypt in April.

“I won because I was mentally stronger.

This win has boosted my confidence of putting up a better performance in the second round,” said Nafiizwan, the former Asian champion.

Qualifier Diego Elias of Peru created the second upset of the day. He came back from a set down to upset world No. 26 Gregoire Marche of France 7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6.

Elias will face sixth seed Marwan El Shorbagy of Egypt for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s event, Malaysia’s Nicol David also reached the second round after an easy 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 over Line Hansen of Denmark.

World No. 3 Nicol, the 2014 US Open champion, will face 11th seed Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in the second round.