WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Valid Dutch Squash Open, Maastricht, Netherlands

Men's semi-finals:
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Laurens Anjema (NED) 15-12, 15-9, 15-7
Tommy Berden (NED) bt [3] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 5-15, 17-16, 15-12, 5-15, 15-12

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-1, 9-2, 9-7
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Nicol David (MAS) 9-7, 3-9, 9-3, 9-7

Atkinson & Berden Keep Dutch Hopes Alive

Dutch national champions Tommy Berden and Vanessa Atkinson are one step away from adding the Valid Dutch Squash Open titles to their trophy collections after contrasting victories in the semi-finals in Maastricht.

Unseeded Berden needed five games to overcome third-seeded Egyptian Mohammed Abbas 5-15 17-16 15-12 5-15 15-12 in his third successive victory over a seed.  He now meets England's James Willstrop, the seventh seed who put paid to an all-Dutch final by beating Netherlands qualifier Lauren Anjema 15-12 15-9 15-7.

In the women's event, top seed Atkinson ended unseeded Englishwoman Jenny Duncalf's run with a 9-1 9-2 9-7 win and now meets Netherlands-based Australian Natalie Grinham after the fourth seed defeated Malaysia's unseeded Nicol David 9-7 3-9 9-3 9-7.