RESULTS:    Women's Carol Weymuller Open, Heights Casino, New York, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [8] Annelize Naude (NED) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (18m)
[4] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 (28m)
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (36m)
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [7] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 (24m) 


US star Natalie Grainger is one match away from her third successive appearance in the final of the Women's Carol Weymuller Open after beating New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes in the semi-finals of the established WISPA World Tour Silver 30 squash event at Heights Casino in New York.

The second-seeded title-holder from Washington beat seventh seed Hawkes 13-11, 11-7, 11-3 in 24 minutes - sweet revenge for the former world number one who suffered a shock defeat to the Kiwi in last month's World Open in England.

"It was great to win tonight after a tough loss against Jacs in the World Open a few weeks ago," said Grainger.  "I worked to make openings and keep the ball tight, and managed to wear her down in the end."

Grainger will now face third seed Vanessa Atkinson for a place in the final.  Atkinson, the former world number one from the Netherlands, battled back from two games down to overcome unseeded Latasha Khan, from the USA, 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5.

The other semi-final will also feature two of the top four seeds when Australian favourite Rachael Grinham takes on New Zealander Shelley Kitchen.  Grinham, the 2006 champion beat No8 seed Annelize Naude 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 in just 18 minutes while fourth seed Kitchen defeated England's Dominique Lloyd-Walter 11-4, 11-9, 11-4.

"It's great to be back here in Brooklyn," said Grinham after her speedy victory.  "I felt I played really well tonight, I moved well and felt totally comfortable on the court."

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [4] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) v [3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED)