Geaves Cruises Into Florida State Semis

19 Nov 2005

Belying the 19-year age gap between the two, England's experienced Fiona Geaves conceded just five points as she cruised to a straight games victory over Belgium's No7 seed Charlie de Rycke in the quarter-finals of the Women's Florida State Open at the University of Miami Athletic Center in Boca Raton, USA.

Now a coach at the Heights Casino in New York, 37-year-old Geaves powerfully demonstrated that she is still a major force on the WISPA World Tour with her 9-3 9-1 9-1 dismissal of the 18-year-old European Junior Champion from Ghent.

The top seed from Gloucester now faces Canada's Alana Miller for a place in the final. Fourth seed Miller recovered from a game down to beat Italy's sixth seed Manuela Manetta 5-9 10-8 9-4 9-6.

The other semi-final will also be an Anglo-Canadian affair between second seed Melanie Jans Burke and England's No3 seed Lauren Briggs - both of whom enjoyed straight games quarter-final victories.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [7] Charlie de Rycke (BEL) 9-3, 9-1, 9-1
[4] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [6] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 5-9, 10-8, 9-4, 9-6
[3] Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt [5] Katie Patrick (CAN) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0
[2] Melanie Jans Burke (CAN) bt [8] Tara Mullins (CAN) 9-4, 9-5, 9-5