Stoehr Stops Top Seed Atkinson In Weymuller Shock

In one of the best results of her career, France's Isabelle Stoehr beat world champion Vanessa Atkinson in a stunning five-game upset at the Heights Casino in New York to reach the semi-finals of the Women's Carol Weymuller Open in the USA.

Top seed Atkinson, the world No2 from the Netherlands, took the opening two games with the authority expected of the 29-year-old from The Hague who had been widely expected to take over the world number one spot during this year. The tide turned, however, in the third game as the Dutch star began making errors and started to look a little tired after her tough first round match against local player Fiona Geaves the previous night.

Stoehr took control after winning the third, and grew in confidence as her natural shot-making ability was fed by her rising momentum. Atkinson, who seemed more edgy and tired as the match progressed, ultimately capitulated as eighth seed Stoehr claimed her morale-boosting 5-9 5-9 9-6 9-3 9-3 victory.

Stoehr, the world No15 from Chambery, now meets Natalie Grinham, the third seed from Australia who despatched England's fifth seed Jenny Duncalf 9-4 9-1 9-4.

The other semi-final will feature Malaysia's second seed Nicol David and England's fourth seed Vicky Botwright. David, the recently-crowned British Open champion, recovered from a game down to beat New Zealand's No6 seed Shelley Kitchen 7-9 9-6 9-5 9-5, while Botwright ended unseeded compatriot Alison Waters' run in a 9-7 9-4 9-5 defeat.

Quarter-finals:
[8] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 5-9, 5-9, 9-6, 9-3, 9-3
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-4, 9-1, 9-4
[4] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Alison Waters (ENG) 9-7, 9-4, 9-5
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 7-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-5