American teenager Amanda Sobhy secured her place in Squash history when she won the Women’s Racquet Club International in the USA to become the first player to claim three Tour titles as a 16-year-old.
Second seed Sobhy scored her surprise 11-3, 11-6, 12-10 victory over Alana Miller, the 29-year-old top seed from Canada, in the final of the $12,150 WISPA World Tour championship at The Racquet Club in St Louis.
The previous record was held by reigning world number one Nicol David, the Malaysian who won her second WISPA Tour title at the KL Open in July 2000 just a month before her 17th birthday.
When asked how she felt about her historic achievement, Sobhy exclaimed: “It feels amazing, I didn’t really think about it before the match but now that it is over it just amazing.
“I just called my mom and all I could hear was screaming!!!”
The New York youngster began her record-breaking WISPA World Tour run at the Liberty Bell Open in Philadelphia in January. A month later, the left-hander clinched her second Tour title on home soil at the Delaware State Open – again beating the event’s top seed in the final.
And Sobhy, already ranked 46 in the world, has every chance of extending her remarkable record – as her 17th birthday is not until 29 June!
Final:
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [1] Alana Miller (CAN) 11-3, 11-6, 12-10
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Top Seeds To Contest St Louis Final
Top seeds Alana Miller and Amanda Sobhy will contest the final of the Women’s Racquet Club International after prevailing in four-game semi-finals of the $12,150 WISPA World Tour squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
In an all-Canadian semi, favourite Alana Miller recovered from a game down to beat third seed Miranda Ranieri 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6.
The 29-year-old world No38 from Winnipeg is celebrating the tenth WISPA Tour final of her career – but her first this year.
New York teenager Amanda Sobhy continued her campaign to keep the title in US hands by defeating Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-2.
The 16-year-old second seed, hoping to emulate compatriot Latasha Khan‘s title triumph last year, is celebrating her third Tour final appearance after becoming one of the youngest ever winners of a WISPA title in Philadelphia in January.
Semi-finals:
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [4] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-2
[1] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [3] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
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Sobhy Saunters Into St Louis Semis
New York teenager Amanda Sobhy is on course to keep the Women’s Racquet Club International title in US hands after reaching the semi-finals of the $12,150 WISPA World Tour squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
The 16-year-old second seed, hoping to emulate compatriot Latasha Khan‘s title triumph last year, defeated Canada’s Alexandra Norman, the No5 seed, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 and will now face Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes for a place in the final.
Fourth seed Fernandes, the reigning Caribbean champion, also ousted a Canadian – beating sixth seed Carolyn Russell 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-0.
The other semi will be an all-Canadian affair between top seed Alana Miller and third seed Miranda Ranieri. Miller, the world No38 from Winnipeg, ended the run of qualifier Graciela Lopez Perez by beating the 18-year-old Mexican 11-0, 11-5, 11-7.
Toronto-born Ranieri despatched South African Adel Weir-Nunan 11-5, 11-4, 11-7.
Quarter-finals:
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [5] Alexandra Norman (CAN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
[4] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [6] Carolyn Russell (CAN) 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-0
[3] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [7] Adel Weir-Nunan (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
[1] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [Q] Graciela Lopez Perez (MEX) 11-0, 11-5, 11-7
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Perez Powers Into St Louis Quarters
Mexican teenager Graciela Lopez Perez claimed an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Racquet Club International after upsetting eighth seed Genevieve Lessard in the first round of the $12,150 WISPA World Tour squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.
The 18-year-old qualifier despatched Canadian Lessard 11-1, 12-10, 11-7 and will now face another Canadian, top seed Alana Miller, for a place in the last four.
But it is the event’s youngest player who leads US interest in St Louis. Second seed Amanda Sobhy, the 16-year-old world No46 from New York, advanced to the quarter-finals after beating last year’s runner-up Georgina Stoker, a qualifier from England, 13-11, 11-7, 11-4.
1st round:
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 13-11, 11-7, 11-4
[5] Alexandra Norman (CAN) bt Carrie Hastings (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
[4] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 9-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6
[6] Carolyn Russell (CAN) bt [Q] Karina Heredia Gonzalez (MEX) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3
[7] Adel Weir-Nunan (RSA) bt Ivonne Diaz (MEX) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2
[3] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt Imelda Salazar Martinez (MEX) 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
[Q] Graciela Lopez Perez (MEX) bt [8] Genevieve Lessard (CAN) 11-1, 12-10, 11-7
[1] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [Q] Heidi Mather (AUS) 11-7, 13-11, 11-2