WORLD SQUASH NEWS
RESULTS: Nivea Women's Irish Open Squash Championship, Dublin, Ireland
Quarter-finals:
[5] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 5-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-5
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-3, 9-0, 0-9, 1-9, 9-3
[4] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt [8] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-1, 9-7, 9-0
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [6] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 6-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-1
Perry Upset Thwarted as Vanessa Recovers
Local hero Madeline Perry was on the verge of a major upset in the
quarter-finals of the Nivea Women's Irish Open Squash Championship when
third-seeded Dutch No1 Vanessa Atkinson recovered her composure to claim the
fifth-game decider and her anticipated place in the semi-finals at the
Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin.
Atkinson, the world No6 from The Hague, stormed to a 2-0 lead against Perry,
then completely fell apart as her unseeded Irish opponent stormed through to
level the match for the loss of only one further point! Despite the local
crowd willing Perry on, the 26-year-old world No20 from Banbridge was unable
to stem a courageous fightback by Atkinson, who eventually secured a 9-3 9-0
0-9 1-9 9-3 victory to fight another day.
Atkinson now meets England's Fiona Geaves for a place in the final. Geaves,
the fifth seed from Gloucester, fought back from a game down to beat unseeded
French woman Isabelle Stoehr 5-9 9-5 9-4 9-5.
The other semi-final will be an all-English affair - and the first meeting
between England team-mates Cassie Jackman and Rebecca Macree since the
British National Championships' final in February, won by Jackman.
London-based Macree, the fourth seed, overwhelmed eighth-seeded compatriot
Vicky Botwright 9-1 9-7 9-0, while Jackman, the second seed who is now
favourite following the withdrawal of No1 seed Linda Charman, overcame a
first game deficit to beat world number ten-ranked compatriot Jenny Tranfield
6-9 9-3 9-0 9-1.