Squash: Confident King knocks out former world No 1

Shelley Kitchen was too strong for Annie Au from Hong Kong, beating her in four games. Photo / File

Hamilton 20-year-old Joelle King caused a boilover when she upset former world No 1 Rachael Grinham in the first round of the main draw in the New Zealand Women's Open at Mt Maunganui last night.

Two New Zealanders are through to the quarter-finals of the A1 Homes-sponsored event after Shelley Kitchen prevailed in four games over Hong Kong's Annie Au on the glass court at Bayfair Shopping Centre.

The top two seeds, American Natalie Grainger and Natalie Grinham from the Netherlands, both went through in straight games against Kiwi Jaclyn Hawkes and Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu respectively.

It was no pushover for all the seeds, though, with No 3 seed Rachael Grinham out and eighth seed Isabel Stoehr beaten by Dane Line Hansen.

King, the world number 39, produced a confident performance to down the No 3 seed 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 in front of a hearty home crowd.

"I've played Rachael before and knew how she played. She has been around the scene for a long time and has a brilliant short game. So I knew if I could keep her behind me and play my game I would come out on top," King said.

The support from friends and family was an advantage.

"I had tons of family and people from my club here to support me. It was huge."

Kitchen, New Zealand's top ranked player and No 7 seed at the tournament, overcame the elusive left-hander Au 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5.

Au, ranked 14th in the world, played with deft touch to force the 29-year-old Kiwi into a running game but Kitchen showed plenty of patience and dominated the final game.

"She has had some good wins on the tour over the last 18 months. When I saw I had her in the draw I knew I was in for a tough match," Kitchen said.

"I am pleased to get through it. I was feeling pretty good at the end. I didn't want to go in there and play badly. I wanted to play my own game and play well."

Grainger showed little signs of a player who is playing her first tournament in three months with some outstanding touches against Hawkes.

The New Zealander had her chances but could not convert.

Earlier qualifier Hansen and world number five Jenny Duncalf overcame world No 11 Isabel Stoehr of France.

All the main seeds progressed to the quarter-finals in the New Zealand Men's Classic, with the New Zealand top seeds Kashif Shuja, Martin Knight and Campbell Grayson all through in straight games.