Qualifiers Quashed In Seoul

After the unusual experience of playing in the rain on the first day of action of the Women's Seoul Open, the competitors on the second day of first round action in the $60,000 WISPA World Tour squash event in the South Korean capital Seoul enjoyed better conditions, albeit cloudy and overcast.

In addition to a canopy over the all-glass court in the open air at Seoul Plaza, the central square of Seoul city, additional protective covering had been installed for invited VIPs and TV cameras - but, in fact, the rain abated and play continued without interruption.

English qualifier Emma Beddoes was celebrating her maiden experience in a WISPA Gold event - and facing experienced Vanessa Atkinson, the former world champion from the Netherlands.

Entering the court to begin the third game, the 22-year-old underdog from Nottingham bizarrely managed to close the court door on her own finger! Ice was called for, the digit examined, and play duly continued.

The incident did little to improve the debutante's performance and sixth seed Atkinson romped to a 9-4, 9-3, 9-1 victory - and a place in the quarter-finals.

"How embarrassing for me to do that on TV - typical of me to do something really silly," said Beddoes afterwards. "But I was always on the back foot against Vanessa - she hits such a good length and whenever I got it back loosely she made me pay. I have to get used to playing a match at that sort of pace and accuracy."

Earlier, event favourite Nicol David cruised into the last eight with a 9-2, 9-3, 9-1 win over New Zealand qualifier Jaclyn Hawkes. The 24-year-old world number one from Penang is expected to reach the Seoul final for the second year - and pick up her fourth Tour title of the year.

English players claimed the other two quarter-final places on offer in the session. Alison Waters, the seventh seed from London, beat Hong Kong qualifier Elise Ng 9-2, 9-3, 9-1 while new world number nine Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, the No8 seed from Lancashire, defeated Egyptian qualifier Raneem El Weleily 9-3, 9-1, 10-8.

1st round (part):
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-2, 9-3, 9-1 (28m)
[7] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Elise Ng (HKG) 9-2, 9-3, 9-1 (20m)
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 9-3, 9-1, 10-8
[6] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 9-4, 9-3, 9-1