GIZA CITY: High expectations will be on Malaysia's world No. 9 S. Sivasangari and world No. 13 Ng Eain Yow when the new 2024/25 squash season kicks off with the US$315,000 (RM1.3 million) Egyptian Open today at Giza City.
Asian champions Sivasangari and Eain Yow aim to improve their world rankings with strong results in the opening season at the Diamond-level Egyptian Open.
Sivasangari, 25, and Eain Yow, 26, have been training in Europe for the last few weeks.
National coach Ajaz Azmat said that Sivasangari is in high spirits after training for six weeks in Prague under French former world champion Gregory Gaultier of France.
"She is happy with the Egyptian Open draw and looking forward to a good outing.
"However, she will take one match at a time as that is the best way to move in the tournament," said the Pakistani coach.
Sivasangari received a bye in the Egyptian Open first round and the Kedahan will face veteran Joelle King of New Zealand in the second round.
Sivasangari, who stunned Egypt's
world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy in the London Classics final in April, is expected to face Egypt's world No. 11 Salma Hany in the third round.
Barring any upset, Sivasangari is expected to face world No. 4 Nele Gilis of Belgium in the quarter-finals. The Malaysian had beaten Gilis in the semi-finals of the London Classics.
As for German Open champion Eain Yow, he got a bye in the first round and is expected to face Iker Pajares of Spain in the second round.
His main challenge is likely to come in in the third round against world No. 2 and two time British Open champion Paul Coll of New Zealand.
Eain Yow has exited in the second round of the Tournament of Champions in New York in January, World Championships third round in Cairo in May and the British Open quarter-finals in June.
Meanwhile, world No. 24 and national No. 2 Rachel Arnold will face England's world No. 44 Grace Gear in the first round. If Rachel advances, she will face world No. 10 Amanda Sobhy of the United States in the second round.