Castagnet Captures Egyptian Scalp In London Open

Seventh-seeded Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet claimed a notable scalp in the quarter-finals of the Coronation London Open when he beat Egypt's No2 seed Omar Mosaad to earn a place in the semi-finals of the $20,000 PSA Tour squash event at Cumberland LT&SC in the England capital.

From two games down, the 22-year-old from Le Mans battled for 88 minutes before notching up his 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 10-4 (ret.) win.

Castagnet will now face Englishman Joey Barrington. The third seed also toiled for more than an hour to beat his French opponent Julien Balbo 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8.

There will also be domestic interest in the other men's semi where Shropshire lad Jonathan Kemp faces Canadian Shahier Razik. Top seed Kemp defeated compatriot Robbie Temple 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, while Razik, the fourth seed, overcame England's fifth seed Chris Simpson 11-7, 11-3, 11-4.

There was notable unexpected local success in the women's $8,000 WISPA World Tour event where Laura Hill continued her 'giant-killing' run to beat third seed Low Wee Wern, from Malaysia, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-2.

The unseeded 33-year-old from Duffield in Derbyshire will now fifth seed Alana Miller for a place in the final. The Canadian pulled off the event's biggest upset, beating England's second seed Sarah Kippax 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5.

Women's favourite Dominique Lloyd-Walter coasted to an 11-5, 11-2, 15-13 win over compatriot Lauren Selby to ensure English interest in the other semi.

The 28-year-old from Guildford will face fourth seed Manuela Manetta after the Italian downed Indian Dipika Pallikal 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt [8] Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (39m)
[4] Shahier Razik (CAN) bt [5] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (41m)
[3] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [6] Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8 (78m)
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 10-4 ret. (88m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt [6] Lauren Selby (ENG) 11-5, 11-2, 15-13 (33m)
[4] Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt [7] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8 (43m)
Laura Hill (ENG) bt [3] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-2 (58m)
[5] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)