Nour El Sherbini, the 18-year-old Egyptian squash prodigy who last month was within a couple of points of becoming world champion, has been sent crashing out in a controversial first round of the British Open.
Sherbini was beaten 11-5 7-11 11-6 11-9 by Emma Beddoes, an English player who reached the world's top 20 for the first time only last month at the age of 28, and again suggested she is in the best form of her life.
Beddoes' career-best win may perhaps have aided by the conditions and by debatable "no let" decisions at important moments which upset Sherbini, triggering uncharacteristic outbursts from the Alexandrian teenager towards the English referee.
However she took her chance with a clear head and good judgment, mixing the short and the long games well, especially in a see-saw fourth game .
"I'm really really surprised, but all the pressure was on her and I played really well," Beddoes said.
"Last time we played I was just chasing all match so this time I tried to not give her time in the middle and I managed to keep her behind me more."
It was Sherbini's first match since flirting with world championship glory in Penang, and she may perhaps have been inhibited by having to compete on a conventional plaster-walled court, on which all the first round women's matches are being played instead of the all-glass show court.
Beddoes will next play Low Wee Wern, the seventh-seeded Malaysian on the all-glass show court.
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