Aitken Ends Two-Years Of Injury Misery With Shock Win Over Home Favourite In Hong Kong

Lisa Aitken, the Scot currently ranked 165 in the world, ended two years of injury misery as she stunned home favourite and world No.26 Tomato Ho on day one of the Milwaukee Hong Kong Open 2024.

Aitken went into the match at the Hong Kong Squash Center as an outside bet, having not played a full PSA Squash Tour match since the 2022 Hong Kong Open and with her first attempted return at this year's Qatar Classic agonisingly lasting just seven minutes before she retired injured against Tinne Gilis.

From the first rally, though, the Scotland international looked confident, attacking the Hong Kong No.1 with relish as she recorded a well-deserved 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 win in 48 minutes.

Afterwards, Aitken said: "It was terrifying, honestly. The first match and against a local hero, but I said just said to myself from the minute I wake up, I want to enjoy absolutely everything about game day.

"I've sat in the wings for two years now watching all the players go about their business and I knew that when that day came for me I was just going to embrace every minute of it.

"I did that right up until 0-0 and at that point I thought 'Wow! I forgot how scary this!' But I loved every minute of it; I've been desperate to fight and I'm pleased that I could get through that unscathed!"

Aitken will play No.8 seed Rowan Elaraby in round two after the Egyptian took down home player Ka Yi Lee in straight games.

Meanwhile, in the men's draw, home hero Henry Leung briefly threatened one of the competition's greatest ever shocks when the world No.49 took the opening game against world No.1 Ali Farag on centre court.

Farag, who has spoken in the past of his own frustration at being a 'slow starter,' soon kicked into gear, though, and the Egyptian took the next three games 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 to book his place in the next round.

Those wins for Aitken and Farag contributed to a disappointing day for the home hopes, with the rest of the Hong Kong contingent of Alex Lau, Ka Yi Lee, Tsz-Wing Tong and Helen Tang exiting at the hands of Youssef Ibrahim, Rowan Elaraby, Sana Ibrahim and Georgina Kennedy, respectively.