Sabrina Sobhy recorded her biggest career upset in PSA-sanctioned play Monday over Japan’s world No. 37 Misaki Kobayashi to qualify for her first $150, 000 Allam British Open main draw.
Sobhy, and seeded fourteenth in qualifying, defeated eighth-seeded Kobayashi 12-10, 11-8-11-9 in twenty-nine minutes. The eighteen-year-old’s first appearance in the British Open is her first professional tournament since March’s national singles. The 2014 national champion recorded her biggest career upset in the 2014 Pan American Olympic Festival where she defeated then world No. 32 Samantha Cornett.
Sobhy, world No. 51, has drawn the tournament’s ten seed, New Zealand’s Joelle King, as her main draw opponent. King, former world No. 4, has been out of action due to injury, and is making her first competitive appearance since the New Zealand nationals last August. Their match will take place Tuesday at 1pm ET.
“I’m thrilled and surprised, I didn’t think that was going to happen!” Sabrina Sobhy 3-0 Misaki Kobayashi pic.twitter.com/37IizitRjj
— British Open Squash (@BOSquash) May 11, 2015
Compatriot Olivia Blatchford, world No. 36, narrowly missed out on joining Sobhy in the main draw, losing a heart-breaking five-gamer against South Africa’s Siyoli Waters. Waters, world No. 34, completed her comeback to win the sixty-two-minute match 11-6, 15-17, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9.
“It was super to have my family watching and supporting!” @siyolisquash pic.twitter.com/aP4n9yxc3u
— British Open Squash (@BOSquash) May 11, 2015
For more information and updates, visit allambritishopensquash.com, and follow @BOSquash on Twitter.