Englishman Tom Richards and Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez romped into the semi-finals of the Osso/Bone & Joint Oklahoma City Squash Open after producing impressive straight games upsets in the quarter-finals of the PSA Tour event at Santa Fe Club in Oklahoma City, USA.

 

Seventh seed Richards beat fellow Englishman Mark Heather, the third seed, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 in 38 minutes.  The world No76 from Surrey, who celebrated his 20th birthday this month, will now face Canada's Matthew Giuffre for a place in his first PSA final. 

The No2 seed from Edmonton twice came from behind to beat compatriot Ian Power 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 67 minutes.

Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the fifth seed from Bogotá, needed just 36 minutes to overcome fourth-seeded Australian Raj Nanda 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 to claim his fourth successive semi-final berth on the PSA Tour. 

The 20-year-old Colombian will now face England's Joey Barrington for a place in the final.  The top seed from Somerset battled for 53 minutes to quash eighth seed Christopher Gordon 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 in his second victory over the 20-year-old from the USA in a week.

RESULTS:        Osso/Bone & Joint Oklahoma City Squash Open, Oklahoma City, USA

1st round:
[1] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Wade Johnstone (AUS)                   11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (24m)
[8] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Beau River (USA)                      11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)
[4] Raj Nanda (AUS) bt Kumail Mehmood (PAK)                            3-0 ret.
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt Tony James (AUS)               11-5, 10-11 (2-4), 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 (65m)
[7] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Julien Balbo (FRA)                             11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
[3] Mark Heather (ENG) bt David Phillips (CAN)                           8-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0), 11-9 (50m)
Ian Power (CAN) bt [6] Bradley Hindle (AUS)                              6-11, 11-3, 11-10 (2-0), 11-8 (51m)
[2] Matthew Giuffre (CAN) bt Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY)           11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 11-3, 6-11, 11-6 (58m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [8] Christopher Gordon (USA)         11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (53m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [4] Raj Nanda (AUS)           11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (36m)
[7] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [3] Mark Heather (ENG)                     11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Matthew Giuffre (CAN) bt Ian Power (CAN)                           6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 (67m)