Kiwi Finalist Confirmed As Seeds Crash Out In Matamata
Three top seeds crashed out of the WSA Silver 35 Matamata Open* in New Zealand as Madeline Perry, Rachael Grinham and Annie Au were defeated.
Number five seed* Low Wee Wern* claimed the first upset of the day as she toppled No.2 seed Annie Au of Hong Kong in four close games. Au was always playing catch-up after losing the first game, but levelled the score by winning the second. A close third game went in favour of the Malaysian, and a tie-break win in the fourth put her through to the semi-finals.
Wee Wern will face unseeded *Alison Waters* who continues to stalk the top of the women’s game as a lower ranked player while she regains the points she lost out on through injury last season. Waters seemed to be on course for another win as she extended a 2-game lead over No.3 seed Rachael Grinham, but the experienced Australian dug in and stormed back to level the match and bring on the deciding fifth game. However, the Englishwoman regained her composure to record her sixth consecutive win over Grinham and book her place in the semi’s.
The upset of the day came as home hope *Jaclyn Hawkes* stunned Madeline Perry by claiming a straight games win over the Irishwoman. Her victory ensures that there will be a New Zealand representative in the final, as she will progress to face compatriot *Joelle King* in the semi’s following the No.4 seeds three game defeat of* Donna Urquhart*.
