RESULTS: Monte Carlo Classic, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Semi-finals:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Annelize Naude (NED) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (27m)
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [2] Camille Serme (FRA) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (48m)
A rejuvenated 34-year-old Vanessa Atkinson pulled off a notable upset over France's second seed Camille Serme in the Women's Monte Carlo Classic to earn a fourth appearance in the final of the $25,300 WISPA World Tour squash event in its 15th year at Stade Louis II in Monaco.
The third-seeded Dutch star, taking time away from her English Literature studies at Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK, recovered from a game down to beat 21-year-old Serme, the world No7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 - and reach the 40th World Tour final of her career!
Atkinson made the Monte Carlo final in her first appearance in the event in 1999 as a qualifier, then won the title in 2005 before finishing as runner-up the following year.
The former world number one and world champion from The Hague, who currently sits in 11th place in the WISPA world list, now faces Egyptian favourite Omneya Abdel Kawy.
The 25-year-old from Cairo ended giant-killer Annelize Naude's run, beating the unseeded 33-year-old from Amsterdam 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.
Abdel Kawy, currently boasting a career-high world No4 ranking, is aiming to become the first Egyptian to win the established Monte Carlo title - but it is Atkinson who has the edge on their head-to-head record, after winning seven of the eight Tour meetings since 2002.