MOSC: No M’sian in final as Rachel crashes out of semis

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s interest in the 2022 Malaysian Open Squash Championships (MOSC) came to a halt after national women’s singles player Rachel Arnold lost 2-3 to Nele Gilis of Belgium in the last four today.

In the tournament held at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here, eighth seed Rachel drew first blood by taking the first set 12-10, but Gilis, seeded second, won the next two sets 11-0, 11-9 to lead 2-1.

However, the world number 26 Rachel fought back to win the fourth set 11-7, before Gilis, ranked 14th in the world, won 11-6 in the decider to take the game.

Rachel admitted she was a tad bit nervous playing against a top player like Gilis and should have been more patient in the match.

“I ground as hard as I could. I played more to my strength, which I did sort of, but it did not work out well.

“I believe that I need to improve my fitness after this. I wish I could have been fitter (for this tournament),” she told reporters after the match.

Asked on her next mission, the 26-year-old player said she would switch her attention to the 2022 World Squash Federation (WSF) Women’s World Team Squash Championships in Cairo, Egypt, from Dec 10-16.

In the meantime, Rachel said she will try to break into the world top 20 as well as bag more titles next year, after last tasting success in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games by taking home bronze in women’s doubles with Aifa Azman.

In a mouthwatering final, Gilis will play against the top seed from the United States, Olivia Fiechter, who beat third-seeded Welsh player Tesni Evans 7-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-7 in the other semi-final.

In men’s singles, top seed Tarek Momen will take on third seed Mazen Hesham in an all-Egypt final tomorrow.

In the semi-finals, Tarek was truly in his element as he needed just 27 minutes to see off Nicolas Mueller of Switzerland 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 while Mazen triumphed over the second seed from Wales, Joel Makin, 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-3.

-- BERNAMA