Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom - Joelle King, the former world number four from New Zealand, was in tears after her eight-month comeback from a career-threatening injury carried her into the quarter-finals of the British Open on Thursday.
King achieved her emotional success with a 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 win over a giant-killer, Victoria Lust, an English wild card entry who in the previous round had brought down the former world finalist from Egypt, Omneya Abdel Kawy.
Now though the tall 26-year-old from Cambridge, on New Zealand's North Island, prevented any sort of repeat performance from Lust, frequently occupying the centre of the court, and imposing a forceful, well-organised game from this dominant position.
"I feel so emotional because it has been such a long road back," said King, who had Achilles tendon surgery in August. "It's really a privilege to come back to do what I love most.
"While I was away, Victoria started to make her mark on the tour, and that win (against Kawy on Tuesday) was a big step for her," King said of an opponent who has just reached a career-high world ranking of 25.
"There is more to her than what she showed today. So I am very happy indeed to have won in this way."
AFP
