Blatchford Blasts Perry In Deadly Dublin Upset

Top-seeded Irish squash star Madeline Perry, who has not failed to reach the semi-finals of the Women's Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open in 10 successive appearances since 2004, crashed out of the quarter-finals of the 2014 Women's Squash Association World Tour 15 event at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin to unseeded American Olivia Blatchford.

In what was the biggest scalp of the 21-year-old from New York's career, Blatchford survived two opening tie-break games against the title-holder, then dropped the next two games for just nine points before recovering in the decider to record a massive 12-10, 13-11, 2-11, 7-11, 11-8 triumph in 53 minutes.

World No8 Perry is the most successful Irish female player of all-time. The 37-year-old from Banbridge, near Belfast, won her 14th Irish Nationals title in December and was seeded to reach her eighth Irish Open final this week - and win the title for a sixth time since 2005.

"I was really happy to win those two games, given I was game-ball down in both," said the jubilant Blatchford, ranked 57 in the world. "Madeline is very experienced, so even at two love up I knew I had to stay focused.

"She stepped up her game and got the next two, but in the last game I just thought to myself: 'challenge yourself and make it happen, don't "steal" rallies' - that doesn't work against Madeline or any player really.

"I did have a game plan to begin with: I watched Madeline play Laura Massaro on SquashTV earlier today, and kind of looked for patterns. Madeline is a great attacker, so I really wanted to be the first to attack, to prevent her from attacking me!"

Blatchford will now face Nouran Ahmed Gohar after the 16-year-old fourth seed from Egypt beat compatriot Yathreb Adel 11-8, 11-6, 11-6.

"Tomorrow I am playing someone who is five years my junior, which is crazy since I am only 21," continued Blatchford. "She is obviously very good and very talented, but I'll just do my research and try my best!"

There was further domestic disappointment later when Aisling Blake, the third seed from Sligo, also exited prematurely. Tesni Evans, the 21-year-old fifth seed from Wales, produced a stunning performance to recover from two games down to upset world No29 Blake 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3 in 78 minutes.

Evans, ranked 30 in the world, will now face second seed Sarah Kippax. Fresh from her title triumph in last week's CourtCare Open on home soil, England's world No22 Kippax beat Czech opponent Lucie Fialova, the No8 seed, 3-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7.

Semi-final line-up:
Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [4] Nouran Ahmed Gohar (EGY)
[2] Sarah Kippax (ENG) v [5] Tesni Evans (WAL)