Marche Removes Rösner To Make Nantes Semis

Home hero Gregoire Marche secured an unexpected place in the semi-finals of the Open de France - Nantes 2019 presented by Tailor Capital after a spectacular upset over top-seeded German Simon Rösner at Chateau des ducs de Bretagne in France.

World No.16 Marche came out of the blocks firing, allowing the German to score just three points in the first game of the best-of-three match. The pair then produced some enthralling squash in the second game, which the 'Tree Chopper' took 11-9 to take the match into a decider.

The three-time champion of the Open International de Squash de Nantes then took control of the third game, overpowering the world No.5 to make the last four for the fourth time in five years.

Marche will now face Joel Makin, the third-seeded Welshman who overcame Egypt's Fares Dessouky in the first men's quarter-final of the evening.

"There are no words to describe the feeling I have," Marche admitted later. "I said earlier that this is the only place that I have ever had goosebumps on court. That was two years ago when I beat Mazen [Hesham] in the semis and that time, it was a big win for me.

"Today, to beat Simon, the No.1 seed, on that court and in these conditions, as well as it being the first time I have beaten Simon on the Tour, it is unreal. I just feel great and I am definitely going to enjoy my rest day tomorrow and then get ready for Friday.

"It was a tough battle mentally, so it is good to have a day off tomorrow. Joel is a really strong player. He had a really good season last year. I lost twice [to him]. He is really strong, he is tough to beat because he is really patient and he has good structure to his game. I will have to find some solutions to make him work differently.

"It is going to be best-of-five so it will be a different feeling, but there are no words for this crowd. For our sport, this is big, and it is the only time you can find it during the season, for us in France, and the audience are just spectacular."

There was more home glory as Camille Serme made it through to the semi-finals after a convincing victory over England's Millie Tomlinson, which took just 19 minutes.

The top-seeded world No.3 wasted no time in sealing the first game, restricting Tomlinson to just three points. The second game was tighter, with the Englishwoman holding an early lead. However, Serme came fighting back to take the game, and the match, to the delight of the partisan crowd.

The Frenchwoman will play Hania El Hammamy in Friday's semi-finals after the 19-year-old Egyptian upset England's experienced Alison Waters in the first match of the night.

"I am happy and relieved because when you are the No.1 seeded, you want to go all the way through to the final but obviously, you have tough opponents before that," Serme said.

"I am just happy that this is another step closer. We have had some good matches together and she has had some good matches against Raneem [El Welily] and Laura [Massaro] before so I always take her seriously because she is very talented.

"I use the pressure as more of a boost. I am more nervous about being No.1 seed rather than playing at home. That is an advantage for me because they are very supportive, so it is very positive for me."