PETALING JAYA: National squash player Aira Azman started her Qatar Classic campaign on a strong foot after she sent fifth seed Satomi Watanabe of Japan packing in the opening round yesterday.
World No. 26 Aira stunned world No. 6 Watanabe, fighting her way back from being two sets down as she won 6-11, 13-15, 11-5, 13-11, 11-8 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
Getting her first win over Watanabe in three meetings, Aira said she did her homework before coming into the match.
“She (Watanabe) is a top player, and I’ve been watching a lot of her matches,” said Aira.
“I came with a plan, and I’m glad it all worked out. I’m happy with the way I played.
“I think my matches tend to go 0-2 down for me and then I get back in the last three sets.”
Aira, who won the National Championship in Penang last month, had a similar five-set comeback encounter at the Egyptian Open first round earlier this month, where she came from behind to defeat Egypt’s Nadine Shahin.
Shahin’s run in Qatar ended in the first round after seventh seed S. Sivasangari defeated her in straight sets.
World No. 7 Sivasangari made quick work of world No. 48 Shahin, winning 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 in just 20 minutes.
Sivasangari will now take on world No. 11 Nele Gilis of Belgium in the second round, an opponent she has only defeated once in five previous meetings.
Meanwhile, world No. 19 Rachel Arnold could have met Aira in the second round, but was denied by Egypt’s Zeina Mickawy.
World No. 28 Mickawy handed an upset to Rachel as she won 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.
Aira and Mickawy have only met once previously, with Aira taking the win at the 2024 Squash on Fire Open.
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