Willmott Fights Back To Reach European Final

England's British Junior National champion Rachel Willmott staged a remarkable fightback from two games behind and match-ball down in the third game to beat Germany's Pamela Hathway in the women's semi-finals of the European Junior U19 Championships in Langnau, Switzerland.

Second seed Willmott, whose victory in the British U19 championships in February marked the 17-year-old's seventh national junior title, defeated the 5/8 seed 7-9, 6-9, 10-8, 9-1, 9-3. A quarter-finalist in 2004 and a semi-finalist last year, Willmott will now compete in the European final for the first time - where she will face French favourite Camille Serme.

The 17-year-old from Creteil took just three games to overcome Lucie Fialova, a 5/8 seed from the Czech Republic, 10-8, 9-4, 9-0 to mark her maiden appearance in the final.

Both men's finalists have reached the climax without dropping a game. German favourite Simon Rosner cruised to a 9-0, 9-1, 9-2 win over 3/4 seed Tom Hoevenaars, from the Netherlands.

The 18-year-old from Wurzburg - runner-up twelve months ago - will now meet the other 3/4 seed Joel Hinds, from England.

Hinds, 18, from Duffield in Derbyshire, removed compatriot Chris Tasker-Grindley 9-4, 9-5, 9-5 to celebrate his first appearance in the final. Tasker-Grindley, from Gloucestershire, reached the last four after beating fellow 9/16 seed Joe Lee - the 16-year-old from Surrey who caused the event's biggest upset by knocking out Germany's second seed Jens Schoor in the previous round.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [3/4] Tom Hoevenaars (NED) 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
[3/4] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [9/16] Chris Tasker-Grindley (ENG) 9-4, 9-5, 9-5

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [5/8] Lucie Fialova (CZE) 10-8, 9-4, 9-0
[2] Rachel Willmott (ENG) bt [5/8] Pamela Hathway (GER) 7-9, 6-9, 10-8, 9-1, 9-3