Sivasangari sets up quarter-final showdown with world champion Orfi

Kuala Lumpur: At the US Open in Philadelphia, Asian champion S. Sivasangari, ranked No. 4, advanced to a quarter-final match against world champion Amina Orfi of Egypt. The Malaysian player prevailed in a nail-biting quarter-final match with a score of 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, in just 21 minutes. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Orfi, who claimed victory in the second round over compatriot and world No. 27 Hana Moataz 11-4, 11-0, 11-9, holds an 8-3 lead over Sivasangari in their head-to-head meetings.

Their past encounters include Sivasangari's win in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Finals in Paris last June, but Orfi's triumph in straight games in the semi-finals of the London Classic in August. Orfi has been in top form this season, securing three consecutive tournament wins, including the London Classic, Qatar Classic, and Egyptian Open.

Sivasangari, who has been training under coach Gregory Gaultier in Prague since last year, secured the Silicon Valley Open. Coaching director Andrew Cross from the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) expressed confidence in Sivasangari, stating that she will approach the quarter-final match with full gusto. In the men's competition, Ng Eain Yow, ranked No. 17, faced world No. 3 Diego Elias of Peru in a hard-fought second-round match, which ended with Eain Yow losing 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2 in the second round. This is Eain Yow's third defeat against Elias.