Day one of qualifying for the Cayman World Open – delayed by a few minutes as the players, referees and spectators watched the end of the Men’s World Open final from Qatar – saw some quick matches but some tough battles too, with Caribbean champion Nicolette Fernandes giving the South Sound most to cheer about as she overcame France’s Coline Aumard in straight games.

I lost 3/0 last time we played, ” explained Fernandes,”but I’m used to the courts here and used to the hot conditions, so maybe that was an advantage for me today.  It’s just the first match though, everyone is here with the aim of winning the world title, so there’s a long way to go yet.”

The cheers were almost as loud for local  wildcard, Eilidh Bridgeman, even if  she was one  of five players to lose in 20 minutes or less. In this case, to Misaki Kobayashi.

Scotland’s Lisa Aitken and Mexico’s Nayelly Hernandez were both made to work hard for their wins. Aitken squandered a two-game lead before reasserting to beat Leine Holt in the fifth. Hernandez came from 2/1 down to upset Holland’s Milou Van Der Hepjden.

The final match was a hotly contested affair between Yathreb Adel and Maria Toor Pakay. Egyptian Adel won in three close games.

Day two saw top seed Delia Arnold coming through in three close games against Tesni Evans.

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