WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's Monte Carlo Squash Classic, Monaco

Semi-finals:
[1] Linda Charman (ENG) bt [3] Stephanie Brind (ENG) 9-0, 9-0, 9-3 (26m)
Nicol David (MAS) bt [4] Fiona Geaves (ENG) 1-9, 9-2, 9-4, 7-9, 9-3 (54m)

Charman & David In Monte Carlo Final

Unseeded Malaysian Nicol David and English favourite Linda Charman will meet in the final of the Women's Monte Carlo Squash Classic after semi-final victories in Monaco which could hardly have been more contrasting.

Nicol David continued to carve her way through the Monte Carlo field with her third successive demolition of a seed after a five-game thriller against England's fourth seed Fiona Geaves, the 2000 champion.

Geaves started well, slowing the ball and generally controlling the flow to mop up the first game for the loss of just a single point.  David, however, began to settle to the task in the second.  The cobwebs from the previous five-game battle against Rebecca Macree, the No2 seed, had gone and she began to flow forward to the Geaves drops.

The 20-year-old two-times world junior champion from Penang was also dishing out lobs like the master she was playing and was in sight of the winning post at 7-5 in the fourth before 35-year-old Geaves regrouped.  Errors started to creep back into the Malaysian's game and the Gloucester girl levelled the match.

But in the decider, David's sparkle returned - her expression changed and it was clear that she had found a new gear.  From then there was only one winner as Geaves floundered and the pint-sized Penangite pulled off her 1-9 9-2 9-4 7-9 9-3 upset in 54 minutes.

"Fi always has something up her sleeve, so I really had to fight to stay alive," said the elated Malaysian, now in her second WISPA World Tour final in three months.  "I am just pleased to be in the final.  Whatever it takes, two five setters, that's okay," she added, before disappearing to have a long hot shower.

The other semi was a welcome gift-wrapped 32nd birthday present for Linda Charman, the world No5.  English opponent Stephanie Brind, the third seed, struggled to get to the pace from the start and was diced 9-0 9-0 9-3 in just 26 minutes.  A focussed performance by the winner, coupled with a lack of self-belief by the loser, was all it took.

Charman was delighted to make the Monte Carlo final at her fourth attempt and put down her success to her quarter-final win over French woman Isabelle Stoehr.  "Because I had a fast attacking match with Isabelle yesterday, it set me up for today.  I felt sharp, took the ball early and made hardly any errors. 

"I wish I could bottle the formula!" added the birthday girl from Eastbourne in Sussex.