Lee Leaps Into London Open Quarters

Qualifier Joe Lee ensured domestic interest in the top half of the Coronation London Open draw after despatching eighth seed Davide Bianchetti in the opening round of the $20,000 PSA World Tour squash event in its third year at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis & Squash Club in north London.

The ever-improving 21-year-old London-born Englishman defeated 33-year-old Bianchetti, the world No45 from Italy, 11-5, 11-7, 11-1 in 25 minutes.

Lee, ranked 72 in the world, now faces another Tour veteran Shahier Razik. The 33-year-old third seed from Canada battled for 45 minutes to beat Malta's Bradley Hindle 17-15, 11-7, 11-8.

Home interest is certain to extend through to the semi-finals in the lower half of the draw after English compatriots Joey Barrington and Jonathan Kemp survived lengthy first round matches to set up a quarter-final clash which is a repeat of last year's final.

Second seed Kemp, the defending champion from Halifax, beat Danish qualifier Kristian Frost Olesen 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 in 55 minutes, while Barrington, the fifth seed from Glastonbury, battled for 73 minutes to overcome Frenchman Yann Perrin 11-8, 11-6, 13-15, 11-2.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [7] Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[3] Shahier Razik (CAN) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
[4] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [6] Chris Ryder (ENG)
[2] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) v [5] Joey Barrington (ENG)