RESULTS:    Women's Sun & Surf Squash Open, Vancouver, Canada

Semi-finals:
[1] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt [6] Carolyn Russell (CAN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-1 (28m)
[Q] Alexandra Norman (ENG) bt [2] Runa Reta (CAN) 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-4, 14-12 (68m)


Alexandra Norman, a qualifier ranked 115 in the world and competing in only the second Tour event of her career, will meet favourite Suzie Pierrepont in a surprise all-English final of the Women's Sun & Surf Open after battling to a five-game upset over second-seeded Canadian Runa Reta in the semi-finals of the $8,000 WISPA World Tour squash event at the Jericho Tennis Club in Vancouver, Canada.

Originally from Nottingham and now based in the Canadian city of Montreal, 25-year-old Norman came from 2/1 down and saved a match ball at 9-10 in the decider before beating Reta, ranked 57 in the world, 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-4, 14-12 in 68 minutes.

It was Reta’s first tournament since May.  She is currently completing her Masters degree in political science at McGill University in Montreal.

"That last game was very close from start to finish," said Reta, who grew up in the Ottawa area.  "I got a surprise shot to go up 10-9 then I should have won the next rally but she somehow managed to get back into it.  Still I hadn’t played in a tournament since May and I came here not really knowing what to expect. 

"But once this far, I wanted to make the final," added the 27-year-old.

In the other semi, Suzie Pierrepont also faced Canadian opposition in Carolyn Russell, the sixth seed from Vancouver competing in her first pro tournament since January due to a bad back.  Originally from Sussex, but now based in Philadelphia in the USA, Pierrepont despatched 34-year-old Russell 11-6, 11-4, 11-1 in 28 minutes.

The Sun & Surf tournament is the opening event on the Canadian Squash Circuit for the 2008-09 season.  The Canadian Squash Circuit is a national tour consisting of Men’s PSA and Women’s WISPA sanctioned events across Canada.  Canadian players compete for points in the Canadian Squash Circuit standings, which culminate with a year-end Grande Finale between the highest point earners from the Men’s and Women’s Circuit.

The Canadian Squash Circuit’s goals are to provide Canadian squash players with an opportunity to play at a high level of competition within Canada and to increase the level of awareness of squash in Canada.