PETALING JAYA: World No. 7 Low Wee Wern lived dangerously before clearing her first round hurdle by beating local wildcard Tong Tsz Wing 7-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8 in the Hong Kong Open.
The 24-year-old Wee Wern was eager to get back to winning ways after a disappointing Malaysian Open campaign last week, when she was beaten in the second round by lower ranked Sarah-Jane Perry of England.
The Penangite, however, had a nightmare first set with her length as she allowed world No. 45 Tsz Wing to take control and ease into a comfortable lead at the Hong Kong Squash Centre on Wednesday.
But with coach Aaron Soyza by her side, Wee Wern came out stronger in the second and third sets to put herself in the driving seat.
The national No. 2 nearly suffered a lapse in concentration but was strong enough to pull through in the fourth set for the win in 48 minutes.
“Tsz Wing played really well today as she came out the stronger player in the first set while I was still finding my length,” said Wee Wern.
“It was definitely scrappy and wasn’t the best squash I’ve played to be honest but after the first set I was in control.”
Wee Wern will go on to face in-form world No. 25 Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in the second round.
Nour, who made the final of the Malaysian Open last week by beating three seeded players along the way, was too strong for compatriot Mariam Metwally on Wednesday – winning 13-11, 12-10, 11-8 in 37 minutes.
“It will be tough because Nour is in top form. But, if I play like how I did in the second and third sets today, I have a good chance,” said Wee Wern.
“It’ll be a good match because Nour is a clean player and not very physical.”
In other results, 16-year-old Nouran Gouhar, runner-up at the World Junior Championships, pulled off the upset of the day by beating world No. 21 Joshna Chinappa 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 in just 20 minutes.
In the men’s event, former world No. 1 Karim Darwish of Egypt became the second highest profile player to bite the dust after losing to unseeded Frenchman Gregoire Marche.
The 32-year-old world No. 9 from Cairo was off the pace as he lost 5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 7-11.
On Tuesday, world No. 6 and 2011 champion James Willstrop was beaten in the first round by Egypt’s Tarek Momen.
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