Sivasangari sets up quarter-final showdown with world champion Orfi

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian champion S. Sivasangari advanced to a quarter-final against world champion Amina Orfi of Egypt at the US Open in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The Malaysian ranked No. 4 was just too strong for world No. 25 Kenzy Ayman of Egypt, prevailing 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 in 21 minutes in the second round.

World No. 1 Orfi overcame compatriot and world No. 27 Hana Moataz 11-4, 11-0, 11-9 in the second round.

Sivasangari trails Orfi 8-3 in head-to-head meetings.

In the last two clashes, Sivasangari defeated the 19-year-old Orfi in four games in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Finals in Paris in June.

But Orfi beat Sivasangari in straight games in the semi-finals of the London Classic in August.

On paper, Orfi looks to be the favourite against Sivasangari as she has been in smashing form this season, winning three consecutive tournaments in the London Classic, Qatar Classic and Egyptian Open.

The 27-year-old Sivasangari, who has been training under coach Gregory Gaultier in Prague since last year, won the Silicon Valley Open.

Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross said Sivasangari has been playing well recently in tournaments.

"She will be going into the quarter-finals match full of confidence. I am sure she will put up a really good effort against Orfi," said Cross.

In the men's competition, world No. 17 Ng Eain Yow battled hard for 67 minutes against world No. 3 Diego Elias of Peru before going down 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 in the second round.