EUROPEAN SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: European Individual Squash Championships, Bratislava, Slovakia

Men's semi-finals:
[1] John White (SCO) bt [4] Adrian Grant (ENG) 9-4, 8-10, 9-3, 9-3 (88m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] James Willstrop (ENG) 9-2, 9-5, 9-1

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Vicky Hynes (ENG) bt Pamela Pancis (AUT) 9-3, 9-4, 9-6
[2] Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt [4] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-1, 10-8, 9-0
 
Top Seeds In European Finals

The finals of the first European Individual Squash Championships for more than ten years will feature the top seeds when Scotland's world No7 John White meets Gregory Gaultier, the world No11 from France, in the men's climax and the English pair Vicky Hynes and Rebecca Botwright face each other in the women's final at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava, Slovakia.

England's fourth seed Adrian Grant put up a brave 88-minute fight against No1 seed White in the first men's semi-final.  The hard-hitting Scot, who won the British National title for the first time earlier this year, finally prevailed 9-4 8-10 9-3 9-3 to take up his predicted place in the final.

The second semi-final was a shorter affair with Frenchman Gaultier using his supreme speed and agility to move England's tall James Willstrop around the court.  The pair, separated in age by just eight months, met regularly on the world junior circuit with the older Frenchman usually coming out on top.  History was repeated in Bratislava as Gaultier triumphed 9-2 9-5 9-1 over the third seed.

Both women's semi-finals were settled in straight games.  Favourite Vicky Hynes, the former Miss Lankester, romped to a 9-3 9-4 9-6 win over Austria's unseeded Pamela Pancis - though had to fight back from 0-6 down in the third before staging a dramatic comeback against the erratic 14-times Austrian National champion.

In the other semi, second seed Rebecca Botwright, the younger sister of England international Vicky Botwright, struggled in her second game against compatriot Sarah Kippax - but came back from 5-8 to win the game 10-8, and the match 9-1 10-8 9-0.