Nicol through to Round Two

Main draw action in the women's World Open got underway today with world number one Nicol David confidently beginning her bid to reclaim the title she lost last year by crushing compatriot Sharon Wee 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 in just 19 minutes. David now goes on to face Asian rival Rebecca Chiu, the 13th seed from Hong Kong who recovered from two games down to beat England's Lauren Briggs 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.

Australia's defending champion Rachael Grinham also had an untroubled passage through to the last sixteen, beating New Zealander Louise Crome 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

But there were two significant first round upsets which deprived Mexican number one Samantha Teran and former world champion Vanessa Atkinson of second round places. Teran, the 16th seed crashed out to rising star Annie Au, a 19-year-old qualifier from Hong Kong who took 36 minutes to earn her 11-5, 11-4, 3-11, 11-5 upset.

New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes caused Atkinson's downfall, resisting a fight back by the 10th seed from the Netherlands to win 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5 in 56 minutes.

Malaysian juniors Low Wee Wern and Delia Arnold both reached their goal of qualifying for the Main Draw but crashed out in Round One. While unseeded Hisham Ashour upset tenth seed Ong Beng Hee, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9-- leaving Datuk Nicol as the last Malaysian standing.



Men's 2nd Round
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)

Women's 1st Round
Nicol David (MAS) bt Sharon Wee (MAS)
11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (19m)

Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS)
11-5, 11-13, 11-4, 13-11 (79m)

Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Delia Arnold (MAS)
11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (32m)