It was never going to be another clean sweep like last night,
but Egyptian fans were expecting at least two of their own to
make the quarter-finals tonight, and that's exactly what they
got.
Two upset wins had taken Nouran El Torky into the main
draw, and although she made a good start against Jaclyn
Hawkes, the Kiwi proved too strong in the end. Engy
Kheirallah started favourite against Sharon Wee and
didn't disappoint as she won through in three quick games.
Omneya Abdel Kawy knows this court, she won on it a few
months ago in Hurghada, and that experience told over Aisling
Blake, the Irishwoman was unlucky not to take the first but
Kawy was well on top after that.
Top seed Rachael Grinham is almost an adopted Egyptian,
having lived here for several years, so her win over Suzie
Pierrepont probably counts as half an Egyptian win ...
Jaclyn puts paid to
Nouran's run
It was a good run for the El Torky the
younger, but after a game and a half when she matched the world
number fourteen, it fell away as Jaclyn Hawkes took control of
the match to run out an ultimately comfortable winner.
"When I
first went on I wasn't pumped up enough, and she took me a bit
by surprise, hitting some great little shots.
"Once the second game started I knew I had to get in there, step
it up and start volleying it deep. She couldn't keep up with the
pace in the end, it's tough to put in those little flicks and
drops when you're buried at the back.
"You have to play really well to beat any of these Egyptian
youngsters these days, they're a much tougher proposition than a
few years ago.
"The court was nice, and fortunately not as hot as when I
practiced on it at lunchtime!"
"I
played well for two games, but when I lost the second I was
killed, my legs felt like 30kg each!
"I'm very happy to get to play the world number 14 on this
court, I've had a great tournament, and thanks to Engy and
Omneya for all their help.
"I think I'll go to the beach tomorrow!"
"The
court doesn't suit me much, it's better for her style.
"Anything half court she would just finish it, I never managed
to get in control of the rallies.
"I could have played much better, but when you put together the
fact that she's playing very well at the moment and I'm not in
it, that's the result you get!"
Engy Kheirallah lived up to her billing as one of the home hopes
for the title, truning in a stylish performance as she denied
Sharon Wee any chance to get a foothold in the match.
From the start Engy was on top, and is a master at working her
opponent out of position and then putting it away, as often as
not on the volley. Tonight there was nothing Sharon could do to
break her opponent out of the pattern.
"We
play each other a lot, and usually when we play she gets into
the match and starts playing really good dropshots.
"So today I tried to keep the pace very high from the start, I
was pretty alert out there especially at the front and she never
got into the match, so I'm happy to get off in three.
"I like the court, the venue is fantastic, and I'm looking
forward to the quarter-finals!"
"There's always a crucial game when Aisling and I play," said
Omneya Abdel Kawy after coming through to the quarter-finals in
straight games.
And so there was today, the Egyptian number one taking a 'can't
separate them' first game on extra points, saving three game
balls in the process.
From there on she was generally in charge, capitalising on an
early lead to take the second, and pulling away from 5-all in
the third as her short game came more and more into play.
"It
was very hot and bouncy on court, even though it's cool outside.
In the first she was hitting the ball hard, running after and
getting everything, and I couldn't play my game.
"I was lucky to take that one, after being game ball down a few
times.
"In the second I tried to slow the pace down, not hitting the
ball at full power, the ball cooled and I was able to play my
drops better.
"By the end of the third the ball was dead and it suited my game
much better.
"It's a rest day tomorrow, then we'll look forward to the
quarter-finals against Jackie ..."
"I
should have taken the first, and that would maybe have given me
the confidence. Then she got a good lead in the second and she
neutralised my game plan, it wasn't working as well.
"I felt like I was coming back in the third but I put in a few
loose shots, and you can't afford to mess around at the front
with her, she got me a few times on that.
"I'm disappointed I didn't do better, the court is nice and the
setting is great, I would have liked to play on it again ..."
After her troubles in Hong Kong, where seeing the ball was a
problem in her semi-final, top seed Rachael Grinham was almost
on home turf tonight, in Egypt, on a court she's played on many
times.
It showed too, she looked comfortable from the start, playing
her flicks, lobs and drops to keep Suzie Pierrepont moving, and
establishing control and the lead early in each game.
Only in the third was there a hint of danger, as Suzie pulled
back four points from 10-5 down, only to be bamboozled on the
last rally by a drive straight down the middle ... typical
Rachael ...
"When I
first went on I wasn't pumped up enough, and she took me a bit
by surprise, hitting some great little shots.
"I
played well for two games, but when I lost the second I was
killed, my legs felt like 30kg each!
"The
court doesn't suit me much, it's better for her style. 
"We
play each other a lot, and usually when we play she gets into
the match and starts playing really good dropshots. 
"It
was very hot and bouncy on court, even though it's cool outside.
In the first she was hitting the ball hard, running after and
getting everything, and I couldn't play my game. 
"I
should have taken the first, and that would maybe have given me
the confidence. Then she got a good lead in the second and she
neutralised my game plan, it wasn't working as well.
