Surprise Finalists In Swiss Open

While Stephen Coppinger overcame his third successive higher-seeded player to make the men's final of the Sigma Swiss Open, the other final of the 34th staging of this popular international circuit event in Geneva will also feature a surprise line-up after both the top two seeds failed to survive the women's semi-finals at Geneva Squash Club.

South African Coppinger, seeded 12, made his breakthrough in the quarter-finals earlier in the day when he battled to a 5-11, 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-5, 11-3 victory over France's No2 seed Mathieu Castagnet.

In the semis, the UK-based 22-year-old resisted a fight-back by Shaun le Roux to beat the 11th seed from England 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 10-11 (2-4), 8-11, 11-8.

"It was fast, exciting and included every shot you can think of - one of the most exciting matches we have had the pleasure to see at Geneva Squash Club," said tournament organiser Bob Lincoln.

The South African, now in his second PSA Tour final of the year, will face top seed Mohd Ali Anwar Reda - "who has not yet been challenged in this event," said Lincoln. The Egyptian, who has not dropped a game in Geneva, eased into his second Tour final after beating France's fifth seed Fabien Verseille 11-5, 11-4, 11-7.

The women's event produced two remarkably similar semi-finals where both lower-ranked players twice fought back from behind to prevail. English favourite Sarah Kippax was unable to control her short game as in-form Dutch star Margriet Huisman, the third seed, came through to win 4-9, 9-2, 5-9, 9-4, 9-0. The 23-year-old from Arnhem is celebrating her second WISPA World Tour final this year.

France's 17-year-old Camille Serme kept up her recent run of form by beating No2 seed Christina Mak. Things seemed to be going the Hong Kong player's way when she was two-games-to-one and 6-1 up.

But fourth seed Serme raised her game thereafter, preventing Mak from scoring again as she romped to a 7-9, 9-2, 3-9, 9-6, 9-0 win and a place in her maiden WISPA final.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt [5] Fabien Verseille (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
[12] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [11] Shaun le Roux (ENG) 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 10-11 (2-4), 8-11, 11-8

Women's semi-finals:
[3] Margriet Huisman (NED) bt [1] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 4-9, 9-2, 5-9, 9-4, 9-0
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [2] Christina Mak (HKG) 7-9, 9-2, 3-9, 9-6, 9-0