MELBOURNE, Oct 15: Top-seeded New Zealander Leilana Joyce dropped her opening game before overcoming 13th seeded Vicky Botwright from England to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Squash Championships here Monday.

“I underestimated her a little and she gave me a good fight. It took time before I felt I was on top,” said Joyce after her 7-9, 10-8, 9-2, 9-0 win.

She now plays Fiona Geaves, the fifth seed from England, for a place in the semifinals.

Melbourne-born Carol Owens, returning for the first time since switching allegiance to New Zealand a month ago, was surprised by the support she received.

The defending champion and second seed took just 20 minutes to crush England’s Rebecca Macree 9-0, 9-0, 9-3 in the second round to set up a quarterfinal against another English player, the 1999 champion Cassie Campion.

Owen now has her sights on a semifinal against fellow-Melbourne native and great rival Sarah Fitz-Gerald.

But first she must beat Campion who was undergoing a back operation when Owens replaced her as world champion in Edinburgh, Scotland, last November.

Campion made the quarter-finals showing her best form this year in beating Australia’s Rachael Grinham 9-4, 9-2, 9-1.

Fitz-Gerald, a three time champion who has reclaimed the world number one ranking following two knee operations, also cruised through.

She beat Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, 9-4, 9-0, 9-0 to advance to a last eight tie with England’s Sue Horner.

Monday’s results (x denotes seeding):

Second round: Leilana Joyce (Nzl x1) bt Vicky Botwright (Eng x13) 7-9, 10-8, 9-2, 9-0; Fiona Geaves (Eng x5) bt Natalie Grinham (Aus x15) 9-4, 1-9, 9-2, 9-2; Cassie Campion (Eng x11) bt Rachael Grinham (Aus x8) 9-4, 9-2, 9-1; Carol Owens (Aus x2) bt Rebecca Macree (Eng x10) 9-0, 9-0, 9-3; Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus x3) bt Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) 9-4, 9-0, 9-0; Suzanne Horner (Eng x7) bt Pamela Nimmo (Sco x12) 9-2, 3-9, 9-6, 9-4; Stephanie Brind (Eng x6) bt Sheley Kitchen (Nzl x14) 9-7, 9-2, 10-8; Linda Charman-Smith (Eng x4) bt Nicol David (Mas) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2.—AFP