RESULTS: Berkshire Open, Williamstown, MA, USA


Semi-finals:
[1] Alister Walker (ENG) bt [4] Joey Barrington (ENG) 12-10, 11-7, 11-2 (40m)
[2] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [Q] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (25m)


The top two seeds Alister Walker and Stewart Boswell will play out the final of the Berkshire Squash Open after earning straight games wins in the semi-finals of the $25,000 PSA World Tour event in its sixth year at Williams College in Williamstown, USA.

English favourite Walker, the world No14 from Leeds looking for his first title win at Williams College, faced fellow countryman Joey Barrington, the fourth seed.

"The first game proved to be the decider," observed tournament spokesman David Johnson. "Alister nursed a small lead to game ball at 10-8 only to have Joey tie it up at 10-10. But two short rallies later, Alister had hit one ball to great length and played another short that left Joey standing flat-footed.

"It was all the momentum Alister needed, and coupled with what seemed to be a tweaked hamstring of Joey's right leg, the match got away from him quickly."

Walker was delighted with the 12-10, 11-7, 11-2 win: "i hit the ball well today and felt like i have got better every match. Unfortunately for Joey, a slight injury was definitely hampering his movement today.

"Tomorrow will be another level to deal with," added the 27-year-old who is now in his first Tour final of the year and the seventh of his career. "Stewart has looked sharp and hit the ball well: A good challenge to look forward to."

The other semi paired second seed Boswell with Canadian qualifier Shawn Delierre.

But, after shock victories over seeds in the previous two rounds, Delierre was unable to produce another magical upset.
Boswell established his tactically sound strategy from the outset and then executed it to perfection, pinning the Canadian deep in the corners and then moving him up front with tight-to-the-wall drops.

The 31-year-old world No18 from Canberra took just 25 minutes to wrap up the 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 victory - and a place in the 33rd PSA Tour final of his career.

When asked if not be challenged in route to the finals might be a problem in terms of sharpness and match toughness, 2005 champion Boswell commented: "It's been great for my legs and my health to have had a relatively easy path to the finals, but I'll have to be ready to step it up big-time in the next round against an opponent who soundly trounced me the last time we played!"