Dipika Pallikal's run ends at US Open

New Delhi: Indian squash player Dipika Pallikal's great run in the US Open ended with a narrow 2-3 loss against the World Number 6 Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt in the quarterfinal at Philadelphia here.

World No. 19 Pallikal put up a brave fight before going down 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 3-11 to Omneya here.

The first quarterfinal in the bottom half proved a see-saw affair between the two top players.

Both excelled in shot-making with typically short rallies. Neither of the players was inclined to forego any opportunity for a winner, many of which worked but the tin came into play frequently too.

Kawy took a 9-5 lead in the first game only to see Pallikal win six points in a row to grab it 11-9. The two then took turns to dominate in spells as Kawy annexed the next two games before Pallikal totally dominated the fourth. The decisive proved easy for Kawy.