Quarter-final Norman’s worry

Press, 3 October 1985, Page 40

Quarter-final Norman’s worry

PA Auckland New Zealand’s Ross Norman, top seed in the national squash open next week, says he is more concerned about his prospective quarter-final opponent that his semi-final, assuming seedings advance according to the draw. Norman, No. 3 in the world, is likely to play the world junior champion, Chris Robertson, of Australia, in one quarter-final. His semi-final opponent in the Honda Open men’s

event, which begins at the Henderson Squash Club on Wednesday, is expected to be Martin Bodimeade (U.K.), the fourth seed.

“Chris should really have been the fourth seed rather than the fifth,” said Norman after the draw was announced yesterday. “He has beaten Chris Dittmar (the world No 2), who is recovering from injury, and most of those who have been ranked above him (at 41), so the quarterfinal will certainly be tougher to win than the

semi-final.” Stuart Davenport, of Khandallah, the runner-up to Norman in the national championship and ranked fifth in the world, is the second seed. The Honda women’s open, which begins next Thursday, has attracted 12 overseas players among the 32 entrants. Besides the world champion Susan Devoy, as top seed, the women’s grade one tournament includes the world No 2, Lisa Opie, and the world junior champion

Lucy Soutter, both of the United Kingdom. Seedings in the $27,500 men’s open: Norman (NZ), 1; Davenport (NZ), 2; Ross Thorne (Aust), 3; Bodimeade (UK), 4; Robertson (Aust), 5; Peter Hill (Singapore), 6; Dale Styner (Canada), 7; Patrick Coll (Aust), 8. Seedings in the ?25,760 women’s open: Devoy (NZ), 1; Opie (UK), 2; Soutter (UK)j 3; Robyn Blackwood (NZ), 4; Donna Gurran (NZ), 5; Joanne Williams (NZ), 6; Jillian Oakley (NZ), 7; Judy Burgess (NZ), 8.