Kiwis In Squash Semis In Auckland

A New Zealand player is guaranteed a place in the final of the US$5,000 Court Tech PSA Women’s Classic at Squash XL Club in Avondale, Auckland this weekend

However top seed and tournament favourite Christine Nunn of Australia is looking sharp and will be the player to beat after she easily dispatched Wakato junior Anika Jackson in straight games in 18 minutes in the quarter-finals.

Nunn, ranked 53 in the world will face fourth seed Jemyca Aribado (Philippines) ranked 90th in her semifinal. Aribado beat Kiwi Emma Millar 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 in her match.

However in the bottom half of the draw a couple of locals have reached the semfiinals after good wins in the last eight contests.

Northland 20-year-old Abbie Palmer the tournament third seed at 89 in the world beat eighth seed Au Yeong Wai Yhann (Singapore) in straight games. Palmer will play top Kiwi junior Kaitlyn Watts from Palmerston North for a spot in the final.

Watts ranked over 100 defeated second seed and world No.59 Vanessa Chu from Hong Kong 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 in her quarter-final match.

New Zealand players in the event have been using the tournament as a good warm up for the nationals championships to be held in Auckland next month.

Semifinals start from 4pm with the final on Sunday from 5pm.

Quarter-final results:

(1) Christine Nunn (Australia) bt Anika Jackson (New Zealand) 11-4, 11-6, 11-0 (18 mins),

(4) Jemyca Aribado (Philippines) bt (7) Emma Millar (New Zealand) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (15 mins),

(3) Abbie Palmer (New Zealand) bt (8) Au Yeong Wai Yhann (Singapore) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5,

(5) Kaitlyn Watts (New Zealand) bt (2) Vanessa Chu (Hong Kong) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (24 mins)

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