Egelstaff edged out by world champion Lu

SUSAN Egelstaff came close to causing a huge upset yesterday before going out in three games to China's world champion Lan Lu in the second round of the women's singles at the Yonex All-England Super Series in Birmingham yesterday.

The Bank of Scotland International champion had hit form to reach the last 16 with a win over Japanese No1 Sayako Sato, and she pushed Lu, the No6 seed, all the way in the tightest of 66-minute matches.

In the first game, Egelstaff had game points at 20-19 and 21-20 before losing it on her opponent's third game point 23-25. She then came from behind and saved a match point to snatch the second 22-20.

In the decider, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist took an early lead at 5-3 before Lu, who won the world title in India last September, finally gained the upper hand and claimed the match 25-23, 20-22, 21-17.

Currently ranked No32 in the world, Egelstaff said: "I'm really pleased with the way I played. It was definitely one of the best performances of my career. Just a pity I couldn't quite make the quarter-finals."

In the mixed doubles, Glasgow's Imogen Bankier and Edinburgh-born Robert Blair didn't even make it on to court. As feared, Blair's back problem that forced him to retire in the final of the German Open last Sunday again ruled him out.

"Robert was struggling during our match yesterday and then pulled out in the first game of his men's doubles last night," said Bankier, who has only recently made her own comeback after a seven-month knee injury. "Sadly, he's still not fit enough today."

Having once been as high as No7 in the world, Bankier and Blair have now slipped to No74. They are due to play in the Wilson Swiss Super Series in Basel next week.