Boswell On Verge Of Comeback Triumph

Australian Stewart Boswell is just one win away from a dream return to the PSA Tour. The former world number four has shaken off 18 months on the sidelines with a crippling back injury, to reach the final of the South Island in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Boswell, a qualifier, cruised into the decider with an 11-4 11-2 11-3 victory over New Zealand's fifth seed Campbell Grayson in today's semi-finals. Earlier in the day, he disposed of Egypt's Omar Mosaad, also in straight games, in the quarterfinals.

The 26-year-old from Canberra will face top seed Kashif Shuja in the final. The kiwi number one also had a reasonably straightforward win in the quarters, beating fellow kiwi Josh Greenfield 11-9 11-6 11-10. However, Shuja had to fight a lot harder in the semis, bouncing back from two games down to beat Australia's Steve Finitsis 9-11 9-11 11-5 11-4 11-8.

Seedings have meant very little in the draw of the women's WISPA World Tour event.

Top-seeded Australian Dianne Desira bowed out in the quarterfinals, beaten 9-6 9-7 9-5 by New Zealand's unseeded Lara Petera. However, Petera was then pipped for a place in the final by fellow kiwi, and fourth seed Jaclyn Hawkes, losing the five-game battle 9-7 9-6 1-9 5-9 9-1.

Hawkes will meet kiwi qualifier Sarah Cook in the decider. Cook swept into the last two with a clinical 9-6 9-2 9-5 victory over Tricia Chuah from Malaysia.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [4] Steve Finitsis (AUS) 9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8
[Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [5] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-4, 11-2, 11-3

Women's semi-finals:
[4] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt Lara Petera (NZL) 9-7, 9-6, 1-9, 5-9, 9-1
[Q] Sarah Cook (NZL) bt [5] Tricia Chuah (MAS) 9-6, 9-2, 9-5