by Ian Marshall, Editor

Ekaterina Zironova booked her penultimate round place courtesy of success in opposition to the host nation’s Sara Elhakem (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5); she now faces Alaa Yehia who, like both Zhou Bingru and Wang Yidan secured first positions in their respective groups contrary to predictions.

At the quarter-final stage Alaa Yehia beat China’s Gong Yuhui (11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-2); in the same round Zhou Bingru and Wang Yidan both ended the hopes of the host nation. Zhou Bingru overcame Rinad Fathy (11-3, 11-1, 11-2, 11-8); Wang Yidan ended the hopes of Farida Badawy, the no.2 seed (19-17, 12-14, 11-4, 13-11, 11-3).

Problems for Sara Elhakem in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, she also suffered a last eight Cadet Girls’ Singles departure. She was beaten by colleague, Roa Amro (14-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Success for Roa Amro but she is the only host nation player still standing. In the remaining quarter-final contests Malamantina Papadimitriou of Greece, the top seed, beat Poland’s Emilia Skuba (7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4), the latter’s colleague, Ilona Szwiertina, the no.5 seed, accounted for Farida Badawy (11-8, 11-8, 11-9). Similarly, Russia’s Alina Zavarykina ended the hopes of Rawan Zakaria, like Farida Badawy from Egypt 11-5, 11-3, 11-7).

Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event, Martina Novakova and Ekaterina Zironova, the top seeds, made the ideal start, they beat Egypt’s Shaid Sadek and Nour Yehia (11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9); however, there was an opening round reverse for the second seeds. Farida Badawy and Menatalah Fareid experienced defeat at the hands of Egyptian colleagues, Dallu Osama amd Ala Yehia (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 12-11, 11-7)

Play in Sharm El-Sheikh concludes on Sunday 28th October.