Squash: David downs Kitchen to make World Open semi-finals

KUALA LUMPUR - Former world junior champion Nicol David reached the semi-finals of the women's World Open squash championships for the first time today.

The 21-year-old beat New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen, who had upset former world champion Cassie Jackman on Wednesday, 9-7 9-3 9-4 before an adoring home crowd.

"Everything came together at the right time," said David. "I was seeing it really well, focusing well and anything is possible now. I hope the home crowd can cheer me all the way now."

Kitchen had been leading 7-6 in the first game before the turning point of the match when David drove a winner off a superb Kitchen drop shot to tie it at 7-7 that also sent the 12th-seed a message about the Malaysian's superb court coverage.

David's confidence grew after taking the first game and she raced to a 6-0 lead in the second and then 4-0 in the third to set up a match against fourth-seeded Australian Natalie Grinham.

Grinham comfortably accounted for England's Rebecca Macree 9-6 9-3 9-0 after the English player's spirit was broken at 6-6 in the first game when harshly denied a let.

Grinham's elder sister Rachael, the tournament's top seed, also advanced to the semi-finals with a 9-1 9-1 9-7 victory over 10th-seeded Englishwoman Jenny Tranfield.

The Australian will meet third-seeded Vanessa Atkinson in the semi-finals. The Dutch player beat Linda Elriani when the fifth seed retired with influenza.

Atkinson beat Grinham in the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha six days ago.

- REUTERS