American number one Amanda Sobhy has moved into the quarter-finals of a PSA Women’s World Championship for the first time ©PSA/mroslanhisam.com

American number one Amanda Sobhy moved into the quarter-finals of a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Women’s World Championship for the first time in her career after fending off Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb in a thrilling second-round encounter in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur.

El Tayeb struggled with her opponent’s movement in the first game, which Sobhy won without dropping a single point, and despite showing signs of improvement in the second she was brushed aside by the world number eight. 

The momentum shifted dramatically though in the third as world number 12 El Tayeb, who was playing only her second match after returning from a six-month shoulder injury lay-off, finally moved up the gears and went on to level proceedings.

The duo played out a myriad of high-octane rallies in the decisive fifth game, with the most brutal - an exchange of more than 30 shots - putting Sobhy 9-6 ahead at a crucial time in the match.

From there, Sobhy went on to close out an 11-0, 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 12-10 victory and set up a meeting with Egyptian number three seed Raneem El Welily, who beat New Zealand’s Joelle King 9-11, 5-11, 10-12 later in the day.

"It was such a strong start but I kind of knew that she would be slow in the beginning because this her first tournament back and this is a big match for her," said Sobhy.

"I tried to play at a fast pace, one that she’s not really used to, and it caught her off guard in the second game.

"I knew that she would get stronger and stronger and adapt in each game and that she would start to put her shots together, which she did in the fourth.

"I dropped the pace off a little bit, so she got comfortable, and it was neck-and-neck all the way to the end."

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Eight-time world champion Nicol David (left) beat England’s Alison Waters to reach the quarter-finals ©PSA/mroslanhisam.com

Elsewhere on the third day of action, world number one Laura Massaro of England beat India’s Joshna Chinappa 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 and now faces a last-eight encounter against Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy, who came from behind to overcome Malaysia’s Delia Arnold 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.

Defending champion and number two seed Nicol David of Malaysia defeated England’s Alison Waters 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 to set up a quarter-final against Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini, an 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3 winner at the expense of Hong Kong’s Annie Au.

The other quarter-final pits French number four seed Camille Serme against Egypt’s Nouran Gohar after they overcame England’s Sarah-Jane Perry - 11-5, 11-7, 11-6 - and Egypt’s Nadine Shahin - 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 - respectively.

Action in Kuala Lumpur is set to continue tomorrow.