Aifa, Rachel march into second round of Silicon Valley Open

KUALA LUMPUR: National squash players Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold advanced into the second round of the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, United States on Tuesday.

World No. 21 Aifa came back from a game down to overcome world No. 43 Marta Dominguez of Spain 3-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9 in the first round in 34 minutes.

National No. 2 Aifa will face a tough challenge against compatriot and world No. 4 S. Sivasangari for a place in the quarter-finals of the Gold-level tournament.

The 27-year-old Sivasangari, who retained the Asian Games title last month to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, will start as the favourite as she has beaten Aifa in all six meetings.

Sivasangari has been in smashing form as she pushed world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy of Egypt to the limit before losing the fifth game 12-10 in the semi-finals of the Diamond-level Egyptian Open last week.

The 30-year-old Rachel battled hard against world No. 47 Alina Bushma of Ukraine before prevailing 11-6, 11-9, 13-15, 11-9 in 50 minutes.

World No. 22 Rachel will be up against world No. 10 Amanda Sobhy of the United States in the second round.

The Malaysian has lost all three encounters against the American.