Chiu Upsets Perry In Yokohama

Hong Kong's third seed Rebecca Chiu claimed an unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open after upsetting Ireland's Madeline Perry, the second seed, in the semi-finals of the new WISPA World Tour event at the Cote-a-Cote Club in Yokohama, Japan.

The Asian Games champion will face England's top seed Vicky Botwright, who ended New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes' giant-killing run in straight games in the other semi-final.

The Hong Kong number one, with coach Faheem Khan in her corner, started well against Perry – and took the opening game.  Chiu reached game ball at 8-3 in the second, but Perry hung in.  The Irish champion saved two game balls, however, then found a couple of rasping cross court drives to take her up to her own game ball – which she duly converted to level the match.

Whilst the tide seemed to be turning the second seed's way, Chiu pinned Perry back and soon forged a 2/1 lead.

In the fourth, Chiu led 7-3, but Perry refused to give up and, helped by a number of errors from her Asian opponent, drew level in the game.  A game ball for Perry was followed by a match ball at 9-8 for Chiu.

Three times Perry served for the game, and three times Chiu for the match.  The deadlock was finally resolved after 61 minutes by a tight drop executed by Chiu to give her the match 9-3 8-10 9-3 10-9 – and a place in the final.

Unusually for the Irish loser, she looked tired:  "I have had a couple of niggling injuries for the last couple of weeks and not trained at all.  First it was my knee, then other pulled muscles.  Still, I probably should have taken the fourth and then hoped for a second wind in the last, even though I was tired at that stage," Perry explained.

The other semi was a much swifter affair, with Botwright dominating the match against unseeded Hawkes – the surprise winner over the sixth and fourth seeds in the previous two rounds.  In just 22 minutes, Botwright ended the New Zealander's brave run 9-2 9-1 9-1.

"I hadn't expected to do so well, so the semis are a bonus," said Hawkes.  "I have been working hard with Dave Clarke [the NZ National coach] and my mum this year - and it is paying off."  There was a rider added though:  "But less with mum now that she has moved close to a golf course!" said the 22-year-old from Auckland, with a chuckle. 

RESULTS:   Women's Traders United Yokohama Squash Open, Yokohama, Japan

Semi-finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)                           9-2, 9-1, 9-1 (22m)
[3] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt [2] Madeline Perry (IRL)                         9-3, 8-10, 9-3, 10-9 (61m)