Squash: Macfie's unlikely triumph

Richard Eaton
Wednesday 07 October 1992 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

SENGA MACFIE, a 23-year-old qualifier from Surrey who thought she was going to have to sleep at the airport, produced a career-best win to become one of England's seven survivors in the last 16 of the Silver Unicorn World Open here yesterday.

Macfie, a former England junior, could not afford the official hotel and found sleeping room in a local house only at the last moment. Ranked 80 in the world, she overcame Rebecca O'Callaghan, the world No 13, in straight games in the biggest surprise of the tournament so far.

She unleashed a sequence of marvellously creative attacks to outplay the experienced Irish No 1, 9-4, 9-5, 9-0. She now meets Australia's fifth-seeded Robyn Lambourne.

There was also a notable scalp for the England No 6, Fiona Geaves, who possessed too much match tightness for Danielle Drady, Australia's former world No 2, who has needed a year to recover from an Achilles injury.

Last year's British Open champion, Lisa Opie, continued her recovery from the injuries that threatened her career with a 9-1, 9-2, 9-4 win over Finland's Nina Taimiaho, which earned her a meeting with the top seed and defending champion, Susan Devoy.

Also through safely in the same half are the British national champion, Sue Wright, and England's fine new hope, Cassie Jackman, the world junior champion.

England's second-seeded former world champion, Martine Le Moignan, won 9-6, 9-1, 9-4 against one of the all-time greats, 37-year-old Vicki Cardwell, four times a former British Open champion.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in