Tesni Evans and Joel Makin got their seasons off to winning start at the China Open at the SECA Academy in Shanghai.
British Champion Evans, the women’s World.12, had to work hard for her victory over Mariam Metwally in four games.
Evans won the opening two games 11-9, 13-11 but the Egyptian fought back in the third to win 11-6 in the first meeting between the two players.
And it was a tight fourth game which Cardiff-born, North Wales based Evans won on a tiebreak to set up a second round clash with World No.1 Nour El Sherbini.
Through to round 2 here in Shanghai after a tough first round coming through in 4 games! Great to get through first match of the season… Tomorrow up against Nour El Sherbini on this great setting ⤵️🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/RLvVNGsBNm
— Tesni Murphy (@tesnimurphy) September 5, 2018
“It was really tough, I hadn’t played her before and I knew what to expect but it was pretty tough,” said Evans.
“Credit to her, she played really well. Even though I won the first two games they were pretty close and she came out firing in the third and I was down quite a bit in the fourth as well but managed to somehow to win the game.
“She’s [El Sherbini] an unbelievable player and she had another great season last year. It’s going to be a really tough game but one that I’m looking forward to.
“There’s no pressure for me and I’m just going to give it my all.”
Meanwhile, Makin earned his place in the last 16 after coming through to beat Eain Yow Ng in straight games.
Makin was in control throughout the match and after winning the opening two games cruised into a 7-0 lead in the third to see off the the former World Junior Champion.
The Pembrokeshire-born player, ranked No.38 in the world, also has a tough second round against top seed Simon Rösner in the next round.
Unfortunately, Peter Creed could not join Evaans and Makin in the last 16 after losing in straight sets in 51 minutes to Malaysia’s Nafiizwan Adnan.