The most exciting day in Hong Kong is due up tomorrow in the Cathay Pacific Gale Well Hong Kong Open 2009 as we reach the last 8 in the Men's and Women's draws.
Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar claimed the biggest scalp, beating 2001 champion David Palmer - the fifth seed from Australia who has not failed to reach the event's last eight since winning the title in 2001.
The world No20 from Kuala Lumpur recovered from a game down, then stemmed a fourth game fightback by former world champion Palmer to win 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 in 72 minutes.
"I’ve always admired David, he is my role model, and will be for still a very long time," Iskandar said after his first ever win over the Australian. "I was moving a bit better than David, and I think that made the difference. I don’t think he was playing at his best today.
"I was leading pretty much every game, I played deep in the corners, good length to then take it short. I’m also working at keeping and controlling my emotions better, not to get over excited. So, I’m happy with the win, obviously - but I have to stay humble, because I really don’t think David was at his best."
Englishman Selby faced Essex county colleague and good friend Peter Barker, the seventh seed. The 26-year-old world No21 was in sparkling form, despatching world No9 Barker 11-5, 11-6, 11-1 to register the first Tour win over his Essex rival in six meetings since February 2006.
"I played very well - it was some of the best squash I've ever played," conceded Selby later.
The two non-seeds now face the event's biggest names: Iskandar takes on top seed Karim Darwish, the world number one who defeated Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, while Selby also faces an Egyptian, defending champion Amr Shabana - who took 55 minutes to overcome up-and-coming fellow countryman Mohamed El Shorbagy 12-10, 11-5, 11-9.
The last sixteen matches in the women's $74,000 women's WISPA Gold event all went with seeding - except for the bottom match in the draw which was unplayed after second seed Natalie Grinham was taken ill during the previous night and too weak to take part.
"I'm really disappointed as I have been playing well and was really prepared for this week," said the Dutch world number two. "It's a title I haven't won but I have been hit hard by this overnight so I guess I will have to wait another year to try again."
France's 14th seed Camille Serme was the lucky recipient of the walkover. The 20-year-old from Creteil will take on Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy after the sixth seed beat France's Isabelle Stoehr 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.
Malaysia's world number one Nicol David moved another step towards her fourth successive title after ending Hong Kong interest in the event by beating Asian rival Rebecca Chiu 11-3, 11-6, 11-3.
Top seed David will now face England's Jenny Duncalf in a repeat of their recent World Open quarter-final in Amsterdam. Duncalf, the fifth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire, defeated unseeded Egyptian Engy Kheirallah 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5.
Tomorrow's Schedule (Starting early monring in UK and Europe) - Times are local in Hong Kong.
The final two matches for the day should provide some early fireworks with James Willstrop up against Ramy Ashour in a match that has provided us with classic when they have met in the past. We then have the all french tie between Lincou and Gaultier where the young World Number 2 has taken the last 4 PSA meetings and is not only 8-6 behind on head to heads between the two.
