Bailey Battles Into KL Climax

Tania Bailey produced her second upset in 24 hours in the NSC Series No5 Championships today when she beat No2 seed Vanessa Atkinson in straight games to reach the final of the women's $25,000 WISPA World Tour event at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

The 29-year-old fifth seed from Lincolnshire in England, who dismissed fourth-seeded New Zealander Shelley Kitchen in the previous round, defeated former world champion Atkinson, from the Netherlands, 11-2, 12-10, 11-3 in 30 minutes to reach the 14th Tour final of her career - but her first since July 2007.

Bailey, a former world No4 who is fighting back to her old form after knee surgery last year, will now face Madeline Perry, the top seed from Ireland.

Perry survived a tough opening game in her semi-final against rapidly-improving Annie Au before beating the 20-year-old from Hong Kong 15-13, 11-9, 11-6.

The 10 times Irish National champion from Belfast is celebrating her 13th WISPA final appearance.

Malaysian interest rides high in the men's $20,000 PSA Tour event where favourite Mohd Azlan Iskandar needed four games to overcome Egyptian Hisham Mohd Ashour, the No3 seed, 11-5, 11-4, 13-15, 11-7.

The 26-year-old from KL - now marking his 20th appearance in a PSA Tour final - will line up against Egypt's second seed Omar Mosaad.

The 21-year-old from Cairo ended the unexpected run of Frenchman Stephane Galifi, beating the unseeded 30-year-old from Aix-en-Provence 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.

Mosaad is making his sixth PSA final appearance.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [3] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 13-15, 11-7 (47m)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Stephane Galifi (FRA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (40m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 15-13, 11-9, 11-6 (46m)
[5] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 11-2, 12-10, 11-3 (30m)