RESULTS: Torneo International Bicentenario Mexico, Toluca, Mexico
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 (24m)
[6] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (30m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (36m)
[5] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-5, 12-14, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3 (66m)
England's world number two Jenny Duncalf, a semi-finalist in all but one of the last ten WISPA World Tour squash events in which she has competed, crashed out of the quarter-finals of the $67,500 Women's Torneo International Bicentenario Mexico at the Plaza Civica de Toluca in Toluca after losing to Australian Kasey Brown in the first WISPA Gold event to be staged in Mexico.
Duncalf arrived in Mexico with two silver Commonwealth Games medals to her name from Delhi earlier in the month - but Brown, the world No9 from New South Wales, bagged three medals, including gold in the Mixed Doubles.
Fifth seed Brown twice led in Toluca - and twice Duncalf drew level. But the 25-year-old Australian, who had never beaten Duncalf before, raised her game in the decider to close out the match 11-5, 12-14, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3 in 66 minutes.
"It's nice to beat someone for the first time, as it gives you the confidence that your game is moving in the right direction," said a jubilant Brown afterwards.
An all-Australian battle now faces Brown when she takes on Rachael Grinham, the third seed from Queensland who killed off local hopes for success by beating seventh seed Samantha Teran 11-9, 11-3, 11-8.
Teran came out to a boisterous welcome - and the 29-year-old from Mexico City didn't let her fans down as she jumped straight to a 5-1 lead in the first game.
"It's great making a semi-final in a major event as it has been so tough to do so over the past year," admitted former world champion Grinham afterwards. "I am really enjoying playing at the moment and look forward to playing Kasey, who is clearly in form, tomorrow.
"It's actually fun playing someone in their home country - the atmosphere is just as electric when you play Nicol in Malaysia."
Nicol David duly earned her place in the other semi after dismissing New Zealand's No8 seed Jaclyn Hawkes 11-8, 11-2, 11-6. The world number one from Penang will face surprise opponent Raneem El Weleily, the sixth seed from Egypt who overcame No4 seed Madeline Perry 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 in her first ever win over the world No6 from Ireland.
"I played well today and enjoyed the match," said 21-year-old El Weleily afterwards. "It will be tough playing Nicol tomorrow but it should be fun to play her, especially in the semi final of a major event."
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [6] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)
[5] Kasey Brown (AUS) v [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS)