SquashTalk >Cathay Pacific 2001, Hong Kong, China >Boswell, Fitz-Gerald, Palmer, Owens strong in quarters

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...Howard Harding Press Briefs....

AUSTRALIANS SET FOR HONG KONG TAKE-OVER
Today's (Friday) quarter-finals in the $183,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open have paved the way for all-Australian finals in both events, with No2 seed Carol Owens and third seed Sarah Fitz-Gerald sweeping into the women's semi-finals and 3rd seed David Palmer and 16th seed Stewart Boswell reaching the last four of the men's event.

BAILEY NOT THERE
But arguably the day's biggest story was the withdrawal of England's Tania Bailey, fourth seed in the women's event. The 21-year-old former world junior champion from Lincolnshire has aggravated a knee injury and is now likely to be out of action for between 4-6 months. The world No. 6 conceded her quarter-final match to compatriot Fiona Geaves, the fifth seed, without a ball being struck. After an unexpected rest day, Geaves will face Carol Owens in Saturday's semi-finals after the Australian world champion crushed compatriot Rachael Grinham, the 7th seed, 9-1 9-0 9-0 in just 16 minutes - by far the shortest match of the day.

FITZ-GERALD RELENTLESS
Sarah Fitz-Gerald claimed her 37th successive victory on the WISPA World Tour, which includes eight WISPA titles in a row since December, when she beat England's 8th seed Stephanie Brind 9-6 9-4 9-2 in 26 minutes.

In an eagerly-anticipated semi-final clash, the British Open champion will take on world No1 Leilani Joyce. The top-seeded New Zealander's 10-8 10-8 9-6 victory over Suzanne Horner, the 6th seed from England, leads to a fourth meeting this year with Fitz-Gerald, with Joyce looking for her first win.

BOSWELL FLAWLESS
World No15 Stewart Boswell provided the biggest upset on paper in the men's event, beating Scotland's 8th seed Martin Heath, ranked six places higher in the world, 15-11 15-13 15-10 in 59 minutes. Now in his second successive Hong Kong semi-final, Boswell is the only man not to have dropped a game thus far. His semi-final opponent is unseeded Thierry Lincou, who became the first Frenchman to reach the last four of the Cathay Pacific event when he ended Finnish qualifier Olli Tuominen's brave run in a 15-4 15-12 15-6 scoreline.

PALMER SURGES
Third seed David Palmer is now just two victories away from becoming the world's No 1 player for the first time. He beat local favorite Ong Beng Hee, the 7th seed from Malaysia, 15-3 8-15 15-9 15-12 in today's 62-minute quarter-final (the longest battle of the day) and now meets England's Mark Chaloner who survived an all-British clash with Welshman Alex Gough to reach his first PSA Tour semi-final this year. The 11th seed triumphed 15-13 15-12 15-8 in 46 minutes to win the quarter opened up by the withdrawal of top seed Jonathon Power.

RESULTS:
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open, Hong Kong
Men's quarter-finals:
[11] Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt [12] Alex Gough (WAL) 15-13 15-12 15-8 (46m)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) bt [7] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 15-3 8-15 15-9 15-12 (62m) [16] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [8] Martin Heath (SCO) 15-11 15-13 15-10 (59m) Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 15-4 15-12 15-6 (33m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Leilani Joyce (NZL) bt [6] Suzanne Horner (ENG) 10-8 10-8 9-6 (29m)
[3] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [8] Stephanie Brind (ENG) 9-6 9-4 9-2 (26m)
[5] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) w/o
[2] Carol Owens (AUS) bt [7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-1 9-0 9-0 (16m)

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