3 hours Ago By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 42 Aifa Azman pulled off the biggest upset so far at the Australian Open by stunning Egypt's Fayrouz Aboelkheir to reach the quarter-finals in Brisbane on Thursday.It was the biggest win of Aifa's career as she toppled the world No.
12 14-12, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 in 48 minutes. The 22-year-old Malaysian will now face world No. 5 Tinne Gilis of Belgium on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.
Second seed Gilis made light work of Hong Kong's Tong Tsz Wing, winning 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 in the second round.Aifa, however, will have to overcome history, having lost her last two encounters against the Belgian."I'm so happy to make my first Gold-level quarter-finals," Aifa told PSA World Tour.
"It's been a tough period for me after suffering injuries. I had to miss tournaments in the United States and New Zealand because I tore my quadriceps at the last minute."This is my first event of the year, and I'm just thrilled to go through.
I think I did very well today to keep my calm, focus and stick to my game plan."Meanwhile, Asian champion S. Sivasangari eased into the quarter-finals after dismantling Hong Kong's world No.
35 Lee Ka Yi in just 22 minutes. The world No. 7 won 11-1, 11-5, 11-7 in dominant fashion.
Sivasangari, who received a bye in the first round, will next face world No. 9 Rowan Elaraby of Egypt for a spot in the semi-finals.Rowan, also given a first-round bye, swept past Rachel Arnold 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 in 33 minutes.
The pressure will be on Sivasangari, who lost to Rowan in straight games in the New Zealand Open quarter-finals last week.In the men's draw, Malaysia's world No. 12 Ng Eain Yow was forced to retire in the second round due to injury.
Eain Yow looked in control after taking a 2-0 lead against world junior champion Mohamad Zakaria of Egypt, winning 11-9, 11-8.However, the 26-year-old struggled in the next two games, losing 11-5, 11-9, before trailing 6-2 in the decider when disaster struck.Despite briefly returning to court, the Asian champion shook hands with Zakaria, conceding the match as he was unable to continue.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
