Bianchetti Survives Italian Battle To Reach Liguria Semis

Local favourite Davide Bianchetti became the only one of the top four seeds to make the semi-finals of the Liguria Open after surviving the longest quarter-final of the day against fellow Italian Luca Mastrostefano in the new PSA Tour event in Genova, Italy.

The 29-year-old from Brescia dropped the first game against Mastrostefano, but fought back to beat his unseeded opponent 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 in 54 minutes.

Bianchetti, winner of the Mega Italia Open in his hometown last month, now faces England's Tom Richards for a place in the final. Richards, the sixth seed, ended Bradley Hindle's semi-final hopes when he upset the fourth-seeded Australian 11-10 (3-1), 11-10 (2-0), 11-6.

Julien Balbo continued his giant-killing run to reach the other semi-final. The unseeded Frenchman knocked out New Zealand's No7 seed Callum O'Brien 11-4, 3-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-5 - and will now face Hungary's Mark Krajcsak, the fifth seed who beat English qualifier Chris Ryder 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Luca Mastrostefano (ITA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (54m)
[6] Tom Richards (ENG) bt [4] Bradley Hindle (AUS) 11-10 (3-1), 11-10 (2-0), 11-6 (41m)
[5] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt [Q] Chris Ryder (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4 (52m)
Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [7] Callum O'Brien (NZL) 11-4, 3-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-5 (48m)