LAURA Massaro won’t have to scour the internet to find out about her next opponent after overcoming tricky qualifier Mariam Metwally in the opening round of the Women’s World Squash Championship.

The defending champion takes on Hong Kong’s Annie Au tomorrow fresh from beating her in the semi finals of the World Team Championships in Canada just last week.

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In contrast, the world number two from Chorley admitted she knew nothing of Metwally - and took to the internet to do her homework on the young Egyptian.

“I had never played her before and I had never even seen her play either,” said the 31-year-old. “I watched the qualifying rounds and she was the only one I didn’t manage to see and of course I had to draw her.

“So I spent my day on the internet trying to find some footage and have a good picture of the way she played.”

Despite that, Metwally still proved to be something on an unknown quantity for Massaro and gave her a good 50-minute workout before she eventually sealed a 11-3, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7 victory in Cairo.

Massaro appeared to be on course for a routine win after taking the first game but Metwally grew in confidence.

“I felt the ball died a bit after the second game,” said Massaro, who lives in Hoghton. “I was struggling to get my length after that. It was a typical squash game, when I was controlling the game, I was winning, when I didn’t I wasn’t!”

Massaro wasn’t surprised by how good Metwally was and believes all the Egyptian players pose a threat - included world number three, Raneem El Welily, who she could face in the semi finals. “All the Egyptians are dangerous,” added Massaro who won the delayed 2013 World Championships in March. “If Raneem and I meet our seeding, it will be pretty hard match but there are a few rounds before that and although I am confident I can keep my title, it is going to be very hard.”

And first up is Au, who is seeded ninth. Massaro holds a favourable head-to-head with the Hong Kong player but lost to her in the quarter finals of the Cleveland Classic in January.

Victory could set up a quarter final showdown with Alison Waters who was also a part of the England squad that won the World Team Championships.

“That will be funny, especially coming so soon after the World Team Championships,” said Massaro. “It was great being a part of that team with Alison and the girls but we are playing for ourselves again now so we know exactly what we have to do.”

Whatever happens, Massaro has been impressed with Wadi Degla Club in Cairo.

“The tournament is brilliant,” she said. “Wadi Degla is amazing, the court is brilliant too. All the girls really appreciate the effort.”