Galifi Galvanised In Toulouse

French qualifier Stephane Galifi continued his giant-killing run in the Movida International Open when he scored his second successive upset to reach the semi-finals of the inaugural $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at Movida Castanet in Toulouse, France.

The unranked 29-year-old from Rouen, competing in his first Tour event for three years, defeated compatriot Romain Tenant 11-3, 11-7, 11-1 in 36 minutes.

"I'm so happy, as everything is going my way at the moment," the former world No40 told www.sitesquash.com. "The Toulouse audience is so fantastic, who could ask for anything more!"

Galifi will now take on top seed Davide Bianchetti after the Italian beat Ireland's John Rooney 11-6, 11-8, 11-3.

There will be local interest in the other semi-final where second seed Julien Balbo takes on Egyptian Amr Mansi. Balbo, 29, from Chambery, disappointed local fans when he beat Toulouse-based Johan Bouquet 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

Mansi, the fifth seed, twice came from behind to upset fourth-seeded Australian Bradley Hindle 10-12, 11-8, 1-11, 11-9, 11-6 in 82 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [6] John Rooney (IRL) 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (62m)
[Q] Stephane Galifi (FRA) bt Romain Tenant (FRA) 11-3, 11-7, 11-1 (36m)
[5] Amr Mansi (EGY) bt [4] Bradley Hindle (AUS) 10-12, 11-8, 1-11, 11-9, 11-6 (82m)
[2] Julien Balbo (FRA) bt Johan Bouquet (FRA) 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)