Ryder In Sight Of Birthday Treat In Ukraine

England's Chris Ryder is one match away from celebrating his 29th birthday in Saturday's final of the Zenit Black Sea Open after beating fifth-seeded German Jens Schoor in the quarter-finals of the $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at the Fitness Club Forma in Odessa - the first Tour event to be held in Ukraine.

The top seed from Wolverhampton took 40 minutes to overcome Schoor 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 and will now face Frenchman Stephane Galifi in the semi-finals. The fourth seed from Aix-en-Provence beat Englishman Neil Hitchens 11-5, 11-2, 11-7.

Germany's second seed Simon Rosner reserved his place in the other semi-final after beating Finland's Henrik Mustonen 11-5, 11-0, 11-8. The ninth-seeded Finn had claimed his unexpected place in the last eight after a marathon 82-minute victory over Canada's Andrew McDougall, the No6 seed, in the previous round.

Rosner, 21, from Paderborn, will face third seed Amr Swelim, the former Egyptian who is competing in his first event as an Italian. The Cairo-based 25-year-old defeated Denmark's No7 seed Rasmus Nielsen 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [5] Jens Schoor (GER) 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)
[4] Stephane Galifi (FRA) bt [8] Neil Hitchens (ENG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7 (35m)
[3] Amr Swelim (ITA) bt [7] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (50m)
[2] Simon Rosner (GER) bt [9] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-5, 11-0, 11-8 (28m)