Free passage for Sangari into semis, but bogey rival Hania looms

PETALING JAYA: Luck sometimes comes with a catch.

National squash ace S. Sivasangari (pic) advanced to the Qatar Classic semi-finals at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex without breaking a sweat after her opponent Tinne Gilis withdrew on Tuesday.

The Belgian suffered an injury during her second-round match against India’s Anahat Singh, clearing a path for the 27-year-old Sivasangari.

Yet a difficult challenge awaits, as Sivasangari next meets first seed and world No. 1 Hania El Hammany from Egypt in the semi-final.

The Malaysian world No. 5 has lost their last five encounters, with Hania also eliminating Sivasangari from last year’s Classic before claiming the title.

Sivasangari gains no rest advantage either, since Hania also received a walkover in the quarter-finals.

Sivasangari will have to dig deep to replicate her performance in the 2024 London Classic final, where she last got the better of the Egyptian.

Meanwhile, Rachel Arnold may bring a second Malaysian into the semi-finals.

She plays Jasmine Hutton of England in the quarter-finals and enters the match with strong momentum after her surprising second-round upset of world No. 3 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt.