Squash: Kitchen downs world No 2 on 'lucky' court

New Zealand No 1 Shelley Kitchen snared the biggest scalp of her career when she beat world No 2 Cassie Jackman in the World Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Kitchen, seeded 12th, won the second-round match 9-5, 9-4, 9-7 in just over 40 minutes to book a quarter-final against Malaysia's sixth-seeded Nicol David.

"I knew I had a good chance. We've played each other a couple of times before but each time, the matches were all very close," Kitchen said. "I think it helped that I've played her the few times, it helps me learn her game more. Plus, I always do well here - this court brings me luck and I love it."

Kitchen took advantage of Jackman's mystery ailment which caused numbness in her left leg, having forced her to pull out of last week's semifinal of the Doha tournament.

The Briton had feared the problem was caused by deep vein thrombosis, but after flying from Doha to Kuala Lumpur, Jackman decided she was well enough to play. "Maybe that wasn't the right decision," Jackman said. "I now know there is something going on and I'm going home immediately to find out what it is."

The last time the pair met was in Monte Carlo in October, with Jackman winning 3-1.

Kitchen took her chances well yesterday, volleying confidently against the lobs Jackman tossed up during a brief revival which carried her to 7-4 in the third game.

Kitchen's next opponent, David, who is Malaysia's former world junior champion, beat Britain's Alison Waters 10-8, 7-9, 9-2, 10-8.

The favourite to come through the bottom half of the draw is Australian fourth-seed Natalie Grinham, who won 9-7, 9-4, 9-1 against Stephanie Brind.

Grinham's elder sister, Rachael, the top seed, reached the quarter-finals with a 9-1, 9-0, 7-9, 9-5 win over Ireland's Madeline Perry.

- REUTERS