US number one Amanda Sobhy single-handedly led home hopes through to the qualifying finals of the Women's JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York after beating compatriot Cecelia Cortes in the first qualifying round of the Women's Squash Association (WSA) Gold event at the Princeton Club.

Bidding for a second successive appearance in the main draw of the event at Grand Central Terminal in New York - where she made the quarter-finals in 2013 - Sobhy despatched 24-year-old Cortes 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 in just 19 minutes.

The 20-year-old from New York, ranked 18 in the world, will now face Egypt's Nour El Sherbini, ranked just two places higher.

Former world No4 El Sherbini is making her first appearance on the WSA Tour since May last year after suffering a series of injuries. The 18-year-old from Alexandria defeated England's Sarah Kippax 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 in 60 minutes.

India's world No12 Dipika Pallikal, the highest-ranked player in the qualifying draw, beat England's Emily Whitlock 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 and will now face Hong Kong's Annie Au for a place in the main draw for the third year in a row. Au defeated Australia's Donna Urquhart 11-7, 11-3, 12-10.

Tour veteran Rachael Grinham made the qualifying finals after recovering from 2/1 down to beat Hong Kong's Joey Chan 11-6, 4-11, 11-13, 11-9, 13-11.

The 36-year-old former world No1 from Australia will now take on Dane Line Hansen - who put paid to double Sobhy interest in the next round by beating Amanda's younger sister Sabrina Sobhy 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10.

England's Sarah-Jane Perry, also making her Tour comeback after an injury-break, beat Olivia Blatchford of the USA 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 and will now line up against Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy.

Kawy, bidding for a fourth appearance in the championship since 2002, took out Argentina's Fernanda Rocha 11-0, 11-3, 11-4.

RESULTS: Women's JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York, USA

1st qualifying round:

Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (27m)
Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (60m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Cecelia Cortes (USA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (19m)
Line Hansen (DEN) bt Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10 (47m)
Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-6, 4-11, 11-13, 11-9, 13-11 (53m)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Olivia Blatchford (USA) 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 (33m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Fernanda Rocha (ARG) 11-0, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)