No Deepavali cheer for Sivasangari after US Open defeat

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a Deepavali to forget for S. Sivasangari, after her US Open campaign ended in a quarter-final defeat to world champion Amina Orfi of Egypt on Wednesday.

The world No. 4 had been looking forward to getting the better of Orfi, but was outclassed 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 in 43 minutes in Philadelphia.

It was Sivasangari's ninth defeat to the 19-year-old in 12 meetings.

World No. 1 Orfi, who has won the London Classic, Qatar Classic and Egyptian Open this year, will face compatriot Nour El Sherbini or American Amanda Sobhy in the semi-finals tomorrow.

Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia coaching director Andrew Cross said Sivasangari had done her best, but Orfi was simply better.

The 27-year-old Sivasangari, who won the Silicon Valley Open last month, will now turn her attention to the China Open from Nov 17-22.

Orfi said she knew she would face a tough test, having lost to Sivasangari twice this year.

"I prepared well as I knew Sivasangari would be confident going into the match, especially after becoming the first in women's squash to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"Sivasangari is definitely a threat to everyone on the tour as she has beaten the best.

"But today, I stepped onto the court with a game plan, and I am happy it worked," Orfi told PSA Squash Tour.