Open draw a blow for Chiu
Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin was dismayed when she saw the draw for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open yesterday. Hong Kong's top player was drawn against the one opponent she wanted to avoid in the early stages of the tournament.
Chiu, who reached a career-high world ranking of 13 this month, is due to meet Vicky Botwright, the world number six from England, in the second round provided they both avoid upsets.
'Botwright is the one I want least to meet,' said Chiu. 'She plays a very physical game and it is always difficult for me playing against her.'
Chiu said she had never beaten the Englishwoman, who knocked her out of this tournament at the same stage last year.
'I need to play my best if I want to get past her, and hopefully I can turn the tables with the support of the home crowd,' she said.
Chiu will take on compatriot Annie Au Wing-chi, a wild-card entry, in the opening round, while Botwright's first opponent will be a qualifier.
'On paper, there should be little problem for me to make the second round, but Au is our most promising junior and has been improving very fast. I need to prepare well for the match and I will not take things for granted,' said Chiu.
The HK$1.6 million platinum series tournament will be held at the Hong Kong Squash Centre and Plaza Hollywood in Kowloon from November 5-11. It will feature the world's top 19 women and 16 of the top 20 men in the world.
Hong Kong wild-card entry Elise Ng Jia-yunn, will take on Madeline Perry, of Ireland, in the first round.
World number one and defending champion Nicol David, of Malaysia, will meet Annelize Naude, of the Netherlands, while Natalie Grinham, the number two seed from Australia, takes on a qualifier.
In the men's draw, world number one Amr Shabana and number two Ramy Ashour, both from Egypt, will each face a qualifier in the first round. Dick Lau Siu-wai, another wild card and the Hong Kong Closed champion, meets Gregory Gaultier, the number three seed from France.
Hong Kong have a large contingent in the qualifiers, including veteran Christina Mak Pui-hing - the Doha Asian Games bronze medallist - and men's hope Wong Wai-hang.
Promising youngsters include women's players Joey Chan Ho-ling, Leung Shin-nga, Chiu Ka-kei and Liu Tse-ling, with Max Lee Ho-yin, Leo Au Chun-ming, Anson Kwong Yu-shun, Chiu Ho-fai and Roger Ngan Lun-cheung featuring in the men's event.
