Duncalf Despatches Botwright In Brooklyn Upset

Fifth seed Jenny Duncalf claimed an unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Women's Carol Weymuller US Open after overcoming her second-seeded England team-mate Vicky Botwright in five games in the quarter-finals of the WISPA Gold event at Heights Casino in Brooklyn, New York.

"I'm glad I won in the end - I felt like I was in control of most rallies but Vicky chases everything down which made the rallies tough," said the 25-year-old from Harrogate in Yorkshire after her 9-4, 7-9, 9-3, 8-10, 9-2 victory.

"I couldn't convert any of match balls in the fourth - but was happy to get a good lead in the fifth which gave me more confidence as the game went on."

Duncalf will face Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson, the third seed who crushed England's No6 seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro 9-1, 9-5, 9-1.

"I'm really happy to be in the semis, as I have lost in the quarters in the last few events," said the former world champion from The Hague. "I am happy with the way I am playing."

The other semi-final will feature US favourite Natalie Grainger and New Zealand's No4 seed Shelley Kitchen. Grainger, the US champion who is aiming for her fifth WISPA World Tour title this year on home soil, recovered from a game down to survive a five-game battle with England's No7 seed Alison Waters, winning 5-9, 9-5, 9-3, 1-9, 9-2.

Kitchen came through a four-game encounter with Australian Kasey Brown, beating the eighth seed 9-7, 9-10, 9-1, 9-6.

"I got the ball behind her better as the match went on and I took her into the front," said the winning Aucklander. "I'm happy with my game - we play and practice together all the time so we know each others game and what to expect."

Quarter-finals:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [7] Alison Waters (ENG) 5-9, 9-5, 9-3, 1-9, 9-2
[4] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-7, 9-10, 9-1, 9-6
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [6] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1 (29m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [2] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-4, 7-9, 9-3, 8-10, 9-2