WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open Squash Championships, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 15-10, 15-10, 15-12
[Q] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [4] Jonathon Power (CAN) 15-11, 15-9, 12-15, 12-15, 15-9 (83m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 9-5, 9-7, 2-9, 9-5 (50m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [4] Natalie Grainger (USA) 5-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-4 (39m)

Willstrop Controls Power In Kuwait

England's 20-year-old qualifier James Willstrop kept his incredible giant-killing run in the $65,000 Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open Squash Championships intact when he despatched Canada's fourth seed Jonathon Power in five games to reach the final of the five-star PSA Tour event in Kuwait City. 

The world junior champion from Pontefract in Yorkshire had already upset Malaysia's No7 seed Ong Beng Hee, then second-seeded Scot John White before facing Power, the former world No1 from Montreal who beat the Tour novice in the British Open last October and the following month in straight games in the Canadian Open in West Edmonton.

The rapidly-maturing and imposing Willstrop, who at 6' 4" towers over most of his PSA colleagues, took a two-game lead against Power - but the mercurial Canadian fought back to level the match.  Undaunted, Willstrop went on to clinch his first ever win over Power 15-11 15-9 12-15 12-15 15-9 in 83 minutes to reach the biggest final of his life.

The climax will be an all-English affair against his England team-mate Peter Nicol.  The top seed from London cruised to a 15-10 15-10 15-12 victory over France's unseeded Gregory Gaultier to reach the 54th PSA final of his career.

The final of the women's $42,500 event will also feature an English top seed, who will take on the No2 seed from Australia.

Favourite Cassie Jackman needed 50 minutes to overcome third-seeded Australian Natalie Grinham 9-5 9-7 2-9 9-5.

The 31-year-old from Norfolk not only celebrates her 50th appearance in a WISPA World Tour final - but also the certainty of succeeding Australia's now-retired Carol Owens as No1 in the women's world rankings which will be published next month.

Cassie's opponent in the final will be Natalie's older sister Rachael Grinham - the British Open champion from Toowoomba in Queensland who came back from a game down to beat No4 seed Natalie Grainger, from the USA, 5-9 9-5 9-7 9-4 in 39 minutes.