Qualifiers Surprise In Santiago

Qualifiers continued to excel in the 25th Anniversary Squash Club Santiago Open in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Julien Balbo, the French qualifier who claimed an unexpected place in the quarter-finals of the men's $30,000 3-star PSA Tour event after local hero Borja Golan retired injured during their first round match, fought back from 1/2 down to beat sixth seed Liam Kenny.

The 28-year-old from Chambery beat the Irishman 11-5, 10-11 (1-3), 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 in 70 minutes and now faces compatriot Renan Lavigne for a place in the final. Third seed Lavigne beat Dutchman Dylan Bennett 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 8-11, 11-6.

There was a further upset in the men's event when Davide Bianchetti, the fifth seed, defeated fourth-seeded Englishman Joey Barrington 11-9, 11-9, 11-5. The Italian now meets Welshman Alex Gough, the No2 seed who despatched fellow Briton Stacey Ross, the No7 seed from England, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5.

Third seed Dagmar Vermeulen was the biggest casualty in the quarter-finals of the women's WISPA World Tour 4 event. French qualifier Faustine Gilles prevailed 9-4, 9-7, 9-5 in the 22-minute clash with the Dutch player - and will now face Ireland's top seed Aisling Blake in the semi-finals.

Teenager Nour El Tayeb extended her giant-killing run in the event. The 14-year-old qualifier from Cairo recovered from a game down to beat Czech qualifier Lucie Fialova 5-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-3, and will now line up against France's No2 seed Camille Serme.

Men's quarter-finals:
[Q] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt [6] Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-5, 10-11 (1-3), 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 (70m)
[3] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [8] Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 (54m)
[5] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [4] Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (55m)
[2] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [7] Stacey Ross (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Aisling Blake (IRL) bt [7] Emma Chorley (ENG) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0 (23m)
[Q] Faustine Gilles (FRA) bt [3] Dagmar Vermeulen (NED) 9-4, 9-7, 9-5 (22m)
[Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [Q] Lucie Fialova (CZE) 5-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-3 (37m)
[2] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [6] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 9-0, 9-3, 9-4 (14m)