British Junior Open: Egyptians dominate day three
Egypt dominated day three at the centennial Alpha Bravo Construction British Junior Open in Birmingham but several other nations retain strong title aspirations heading into the semi-finals.
The older age groups in particular offer hope for the likes of USA, India, France and England, while Hong Kong also still have representation as we head into the penultimate day.
Europe's highest seed across all ages groups, [2] Lauren Baltayan of France, stayed on course for a blockbuster GU19 final against Indian prodigy Anahat Singh. Cairo-based Baltayan beat USA's [9/16] Diya Yadav in straight games to set up a clash with [3/4] Sohayla Hazem Farouk of Egypt tomorrow. Three-time BJO champion Singh next takes on [3/4] Malika El Karaksy of Egypt.
Both English representatives in the BU19 went out in the last eight. Egyptian title favourite Adam Hawal - who stunned world no.3 Paul Coll on the PSA Tour in September - took out British junior champion [5/8] Dylan Roberts in straight games. [9/16] Ronnie Hickling also went down in three to European U19 champion [3/4] Amir Khaled-Jousselin of France.
USA's 3/4 seed Christian Capella, a semi-finalist last year, won an undulating duel 10-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 against [5/8] Martin Stepanek, who narrowly failed to become the first ever Czech semi-finalist in BJO history. Last year's BU17 champion [2] Seif Refaay of Egypt completes the BU19 last four line-up.
Local Warwickshire star [5/8] Mariam Eissa put in a sensational performance to topple USA's 3/4 seed Charlotte Sze 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 in the GU17 quarters. The 16-year-old English junior champion next faces top seed Habiba Rizk, last year's GU15 winner, in Monday's semis. The other will see USA's second seed Isabella Tang play Egypt's [3/4] Mariam El Matter, who both won in five games today.
In the BU15, Egyptian 5/8 seed Aly Teleb came through an epic battle against compatriot [17/32] Hamza Waleed Rayan, winning 17-15 in the fifth. He next faces compatriot Aly Abdel-Fattah, the no.2 seed. Favourite Hassan Abdelgalil came through in three to face fellow Egyptian [3/4] Baraa Andelkarim.
Another Egyptian, GU15 title favourite Layan Moustafa, cruised through in straight games against Malaysia's [5/8] Niea Chew, but her next opponent [5/8] Sandy Hassan, also of Egypt, needed five games to overcome [3/4] Malak Mahmoud. The other semi will see [3/4] Reem Elmaghraby face USA's [2] Vivienne Sze after the US Junior Open champion sauntered through in straight games.
Egypt are guaranteed three medals in the GU13 with all four semi-finalists winning in straight games today, including [1] Serein Mohamed and [2] Nabila Elnahas. It's also an Egyptian lockout in the BU13 where favourite Yahia Waleed Rayan leads the top four seeds into Monday's semis.
Likewise, all semi-finalists in the GU11 hail from Egypt, spearheaded by [1] Talia Eslam who beat USA's [9/16] Julia Wong in straight games in the first match of the day on the glass court.
BU11 top seeds [1] Azlan Khan of the USA and Egyptian [2] Hazem Mahmoud El Fazly remain on course for the final, but both 3/4 seeds perished today, meaning [5/8] Ngo San Leung of Hong Kong and [5/8] Selim Elnahas of Egypt will be the other semi-finalists.
Watch all the live semi-final action on the all-glass courts at the University of Birmingham from 10.20am on Monday 5 January on the official website.
