Beachill Celebrates Record Sixth Successive British Nationals Final

Despite being out of action for most of the year following knee surgery in January, Yorkshire's Lee Beachill pulled off a notable upset in today's semi-finals of the British National Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester to become the first player in history to reach the men's final for the sixth year in a row.

The 28-year-old title-holder will face fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew in the final after the fourth seed upset twice former champion Peter Nicol, the second seed.

The women's final will also feature the title-holder, with top seed Linda Elriani, the defending champion, taking on second seed Tania Bailey.

In the first men's semi-final - a repeat of last year's final - Beachill faced his Pontefract club-mate James Willstrop, the 22-year-old top seed whose form late last year earned him a world No2 ranking.

Beachill, who earlier in the tournament admitted that 'drastic improvements' would be needed in his game if he were to 'get anywhere near the final', raced to a 10-1 lead in the opening game before eventually taking the game 11-5.

The favourite upped the pace in the second and moved 2/1 ahead in games as Beachill appeared to tire. But the defending champion fought back to level the match and moved 4-1 up in the decider.

Willstrop reclaimed the advantage to lead 7-5, but after several further changes of service, it was a relieved and exhausted Beachill that raised his arms in triumph following his 11-5 8-11 3-11 11-5 11-8 victory in 83 minutes.

"I've no idea how I did it," conceded the three-times champion afterwards. "I'm hitting the ball well, but otherwise I've had so little preparation for the past few weeks - and James has been playing so well over recent months.

"My plan was just to stay with him - but I started so well in the first game. I made a big effort in the start of the fourth game - trying to bring James down to my level!" joked the third seed.

When asked how he felt about his record achievement, Beachill replied: "To get to six finals in a row in a tournament of this stature is a massive achievement - and I'm very proud it."

A downhearted Willstrop, who is yet to beat his close friend, admitted that he was disappointed with the result - and with the way he played.

"I don't know what it is, but I seem to struggle with his game. I haven't beaten him yet - but I will do!"

In the later men's match between the other two members of England's four-man world championship-winning squad, Nick Matthew took a two-games-to-one lead, then raced ahead 8-2 in the fourth.

But Nicol started to attack and pulled back the deficit to eight-all. Then, with Matthew at 9-8, Nicol hit a seemingly easy winner into the tin to give his opponent match ball. After a let, Matthew hit a high lob which died in the back wall nick to put himself into his first final.

"Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and I certainly got it then," conceded Matthew afterwards. "But my downfall was thinking about winning when I was 8-2 up, and my game went to pieces - I don't think I hit a single ball in the middle of the racket," said the 25-year-old from Sheffield who agreed that he is currently playing the best squash of his career.

Nicol was undeterred by his loss: "I feel good - that was just the match I needed. I was just a fraction off the pace, but otherwise my focus on the Commonwealth Games is going according to plan."

In the earlier first women's semi-final, London's fourth seed Alison Waters failed in her attempt to reach the final for a second successive year when she went down 9-2 9-0 7-9 9-6 in 50 minutes to Tania Bailey, the No2 seed from Lincolnshire.

Bailey, 26, from Stamford, has been plagued with injuries over the past few years, but believes that she is now playing better than ever, and able to train as hard as she ever did.

"I knew I was capable of doing well, but had to concentrate hard against Alison - she's such a good player," said the former world No4 who is now in the final for the first time in her seventh appearance in the event.

Bailey's opponent will be favourite Linda Elriani - the defending champion from Eastbourne in Sussex who is in her sixth final after beating Yorkshire's third seed Jenny Duncalf.

Elriani, the 34-year-old England No1 had to fight back from 2-7 down in the first game, then saved two game balls before taking the game. After Duncalf romped to success in the second game by a 9-1 margin, Elriani repeated a similar pattern to take the third.

The fourth game was an evenly-contested affair which Elriani eventually clinched after 58 minutes to record a 10-8 1-9 9-2 9-6 victory.

Men's semi-finals:
[3] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt [1] James Willstrop (Yorks) 11-5, 8-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-8 (83m)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) bt [2] Peter Nicol (Yorks) 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 (64m)

Women's semi-finals:
[2] Tania Bailey (Lincs) bt [4] Alison Waters (Middx) 9-2, 9-0, 7-9, 9-6 (50m)
[1] Linda Elriani (Sussex) bt [3] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) 10-8, 1-9, 9-2, 9-6 (58m)