WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's Hyder Squash Open, New York, USA

Semi-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [4] Latasha Khan (USA) 1-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-2
[2] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [3] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 9-7, 9-4, 10-9

Top Seeds To Meet In Hyder Final

The top seeds Fiona Geaves and Shelley Kitchen will meet in the final of the Women's Hyder Squash Open after surviving tough semi-final battles in New York, USA.

It seemed that the favourite's five-game quarter-final marathon against English compatriot Lauren Briggs had taken its toll when Geaves lost the first game for just a single point against fourth seed Latasha Khan, the five-time US National champion.

But the experienced 36-year-old Geaves, from Gloucester, took the upper hand midway through the second game and ultimately claimed a 1-9 9-2 9-4 9-2 victory to reach her second WISPA World Tour final of the year and the 13th of her career.

New Zealander Shelley Kitchen, the No2 seed, put paid to an all-English final when she beat third seed Jenny Tranfield 9-7 9-4 10-9.  Tranfield briefly led in the first game, and was 0/8 down before scoring in the second. 

In the third game, Tranfield raced to a 7-2 lead - but the world No14 from Auckland fought back to 8-7 and match-ball.  Tranfield levelled to eight-all, then won the next point to claim her first game-ball of the match.  Kitchen, however, was not to be outdone and finally - on a stroke - clinched the victory which takes her into her sixth WISPA final.