PETALING JAYA: Deep tournament runs are becoming a habit for national squash player S. Sivasangari as she continues her push towards the world’s top three.
The world No. 4 reached her fifth consecutive tour quarter-final after brushing aside Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 at the US Open in Philadelphia on Monday.
Fresh from winning the Silicon Valley Open with a straight-games victory in the final a week earlier, the 27-year-old maintained her momentum at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
It was her fifth victory in as many career meetings against the world No. 25 and secured her best showing at the platinum-level US Open, surpassing last year’s second-round finish.
Sivasangari has not fallen below seventh in the world rankings this year and now sits at a career-high fourth, with her consistency strengthening her bid to break into the top three.
Her last early exit came at the British Open, where she lost in the third round.
That tournament was eventually won by Egypt’s world No. 1 Amina Orfi, who now stands between her and a US Open semi-final berth.
Their four meetings this year have produced two wins apiece, although Orfi claimed their most recent encounter at the London Classic in September.
The 19-year-old Egyptian has also advanced without dropping a game in Philadelphia.
Orfi was particularly ruthless against compatriot Hana Moataz, handing her a bagel in the second game en route to an 11-4, 11-0, 11-9 victory.
While Orfi presents a formidable challenge, Asian Games champion Sivasangari’s sustained form offers encouragement as she seeks another strong finish.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s world No. 17 Ng Eain Yow bowed out of the men’s competition after losing to Peru’s world No. 3 Diego Elias.
The 28-year-old took the opening game but could not sustain his challenge, going down 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 2-11.
Former world No. 1 Elias has now won all three of their career meetings.
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