Massaro leads trio into quarter finals (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Massaro leads trio into quarter finals

10:02am Thursday 20th December 2012 in Sport

EAST Lancashire squash world number two Laura Massaro and fellow countrywomen Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters have reached the quarter-finals of the World Squash Open in Grand Cayman.

Sixth seed Duncalf and number four seed Waters will meet in the last eight, guaranteeing an English semi-finalist.

Meanwhile, third seed Massaro, who lives in Hoghton, will play Malaysia’s number seven seed Low Wee Wern in the quarter-finals.

Northern Ireland’s Madeline Perry, seeded 10, faces a tough quarter-final with top seed Nicol David of Malaysia.

“I’m really pleased to get through here,” said Perry.

“My form has been a bit up and down but this is the World Open and I really like coming here, so I wanted to be able to perform.”

London’s Waters needed only 29 minutes to beat Mexico’s Samantha Teran 11-5 12-10 11-3 to set up the meeting with Dutch-born Duncalf, who was taken to a fourth game by France’s Camille Serme before winning 12-10 11-6 8-11 11-8.

“I think I played well enough to win,” said Duncalf.

“Camille’s been playing well so to get her in the second round was tough, she always makes you work hard, but I feel like I’m playing better at the moment than I have for most of the year.”

Perry overcame Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini 11-2 11-9 11-9 in the second round, while Massaro disposed of Guyanese qualifier Nicolette Fernandes 11-9 11-9 11-7.