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Stoehr goes one better
in Alexandria

France's Isabelle Stoehr stormed to success in the final of the Women's Alexandria Sporting Club Open when she beat surprise local opponent Raneem El Weleily in four games in just over the hour.

Stoehr, the 27-year-old French national champion from Chambery, overcame 17-year-old third seed El Weleily – who knocked out favourite and defending champion Engy Kheirallah in the semi-finals to win the fourth WISPA title of her career.

"I'm feeling very happy to win today. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was tired from yesterday, so I tried to make sure she didn't volley - especially from the back - by playing a tight game, making the rallies longer and really focusing on my length. "I was tired a bit in the third and she played well and deserved to win that game." "Finally, thanks for everybody who worked on this tournament. Beating three Egyptians in a row is good, as I almost lost in the first round - so it's good to win this title." Isabelle Stoehr

Draw & Results

"I'm very happy to have made it to the final. It was not one of the best games in my life as I was pretty tired, so couldn't give my best game. But Isabelle played great today." Raneem El Weleily

23-Aug-06, Semis:

Raneem dethrones Engy

Defending champion Engy Kheirallah came out of the wrong end of an 80-minute battle with clubmate Raneem El Weleily at the Sporting Club in Alexandria. Kheirallah fought back from 2/1 down to level, but in the decider it was the world junior champion who was the stronger, opening up a 7/1 lead as she reached her fourth WISPA final.

"It was a tough match today, almost an hour and a half, and it's definitely harder when playing against my big sister..... "At the beginning of the game I was so excited and thought I was in control, I snatched it 10/8 this was the longest game. I started pretty well in the second game, took the lead till I was 4/1 then lost my concentration and made so many unforced errors which made me lose it 9/4, and the third as well 9/1. "The fourth game started pretty well, we went point by point she was leading 7/5 when I managed to concentrate and keep the ball going and won 9/7. "Luckily I finished the last game 9/4 though I really had no idea what my plan was, it was so confusing and I just didn't know where to play what. "But I'm really satisfied with my performance mentally and physically. Hope I can keep it up tomorrow as well." Raneem El Weleily

Raneem will meet Isabelle Stoehr, runner-up to Kheirallah last year, after the French number one recorded a straight-games win over Hong Kong's Christina Mak.

Stoehr, in her first final since last year's event, will be aiming for her fourth career title, with El Weleily looking for her first.


22-Aug-06, Quarters:
Top four through in Sporting
  
The top four seeds won through to the semi-finals of the Alexandria Sporting Club open.

With local favourites Engy Kheirallah and Raneem El Weleily, the world junior champion, set to meet in the semis, a home finalist is guaranteed.

In the bottom half of the draw, France's second seed Isabelle Stoehr will meet Hong Kong's Christina Mak for a place in the final.

21-Aug-06, Round One:
Stoehr sneaks through

The first round of the Alexandria Sporting Club Open saw mixed fortunes for the top seeds, as local favourite Engy Kheirallah eased into the quarter-finals in straight games, while France's second seed Isabelle Stoehr needed a fifth-game tie-break to overcome another local hero, Salma Shabana.

The good news for Stoehr is that her quarter-final opponent, Amnah El Trabolsy, also needed five games to overcome Ireland's seventh seed Aisling Blake.

There will be one Irishwoman in the quarter-finals though, after qualifier Laura Mylotte beat eighth-seeded Englishwoman Kirsty McPhee 10/9 in the fifth, and goes on to face Kheirallah in the quarters.
  

"Today I felt a bit better after my first two matches, I was more relaxed in my game. "I had never played Christina before, so I was trying to figure out her way of playing ... taking volleys and making  her run and putting pressure on. "I feel better after every match as my performance is improving. "As for tomorrow, I know Raneem pretty well, she is a good talented player, besides playing at her home town. "I have to play my best to beat her as its not easy playing against Egyptians in their home club, so I hope tomorrow I play my best game and squash." Isabelle Stoehr

2005 Event

Engy Kheirallah

Raneem El Weleily

9/3, 9/5, 7/9, 9/0

Isabelle Stoehr

9/0, 9/3, 9/2 (33m)

Isabelle Stoehr

Qualifying Finals:
[2] Lina El Tannir (Egy) bt [5] Susannah King (Eng)       9/6, 9/6, 9/4
[4] Laura Mylotte (Irl) bt [8] Alia Balbaa (Egy)               9/5, 10/8, 10/8
[4] Amnah El Trabolsy (Egy) bt Lina El Sharif (Egy)        9/4, 9/0, 9/0
[7] Heba Alaa El Torky (Egy) Nour Bahgat (Egy)            9/3, 7/9, 7/9, 9/1, 9/2

Qualifying Round 1:  
[2] Lina El Tannir (Egy) bt Nouran El Torky                     9/0 9/0 9/1
[5] Susannah King (Eng) bt Nehal Bayoumy (Egy)            9/3 9/3 9/6
[4] Laura Mylotte (Irl) bt Nour Atef (Egy)                         9/3 9/1 9/2
[8] Alia Balbaa (Egy) bt Shahenda Osama (Egy)               w/o
Lina El Sharif (Egy) bt [7] Farida El Dahab (Egy)               9/6 9/4 9/2
[4] Amnah El Trabolsy (Egy) bt Rokaya Abdel Hady (Egy) 9/0 9/1 9/2
[7] Heba Alaa El Torky (Egy) bt Sarah El Nomany (Egy)    9/1 9/4 10/8
Nour Bahgat (Egy) bt [1] Dagmar Vermullen (Ned)           9/3 0/9 9/0 9/1