KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Rachel Arnold played brilliantly to stun world No. 12 Nele Gilis of Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals of the US$124,500 China Open in Shanghai today.
The Malaysian, ranked 22 in the world, won the second round match 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6 in 44 minutes.
It was Rachel’s first ever win over Gilis in six encounters.
Rachel will face a daunting task against Egypt’s world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy for a place in the semi-finals.
Hania, who overcame Tomato Ho of Hong Kong 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 in the second round, had beaten Rachel in their last five meetings.
Rachel, 29, said: “I was happy with my game and played the right game against Gilis today.”
On her chances against Hania, Rachel said she would go in without any expectation.
“She is going to be world No. 1 (by Nov 17), and I will be going in by giving it my all,” said Rachel.
World No. 32 Aifa Azman put up a splendid performance by coming back from two games down to stun world No. 13 Salma Hany of Egypt 6-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11- to seal a place in the last eight.
But three other Malaysians crashed out in the second round of the China Open.
World No. 25 Aira Azman was outclassed by world No. 3 Amina Orfi of Egypt 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.
Aira’s elder sister, Aifa, ranked 32nd in the world, lost to Egypt’s world No. 13 Salma Hany 11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 2-11, 13-11.
In the men’s competition, world No. 11 Ng Eain Yow went down to world No. 13 Mohamad Zakaria 11-5, 13-11, 11-6. It was the 18-year-old Egyptian’s second win over Eain Yow this year after beating the Malaysian in the Australia Open second round in March.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
