Weaver Advances To Maiden British Open Semi

USA's world No.4 Olivia Weaver is through to the semi-finals of the GillenMarkets British Open for the first time after defeating Belgian world No.13 Nele Gilis-Coll in straight games in Birmingham.

Philadelphia-born Weaver has enjoyed a excellent season on the PSA Squash Tour this year, picking up three titles and strengthening her grip on the world No.4 position.

The Belgian made an excellent start at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, leading for most of game one as she kept the ball away from Weaver's strength in the centre.

Gilis-Coll had two game ball opportunities at 10-8 but couldn't convert, with the American taking full advantage to force a tie-break and then move into the lead with a 12-10 win before pressing on to take game two 11-8 and game three 11-5.

Afterwards, Weaver said: "I feel really confident coming out of that match and beating Nele 3/0 and I'm really happy with how I finished that match. I can't wait for the next round!"

Facing Weaver in the next round is world No.2 and reigning World Champion Nour El Sherbini, with the Egyptian taking out Weaver's compatriot Amanda Sobhy in straight games to reach the last four of the British Open for the eighth time in her career.

In the men's event, the last two English representatives remaining, brothers Mohamed ElShorbagy and Marwan ElShorbagy, both suffered heavy defeats.

England No.2 Mohamed, a three-time British Open champion, went down 3/0 in 39 minutes to world No.2 Diego Elias of Peru, while England No.1 Marwan was defeated by New Zealand's world No.3 Paul Coll in 42 minutes. Those defeats leave Welshman Joel Makin - who defeated France's Victor Crouin in Thursday's quarter-finals - as the last British representative in the competition, with the world No.4 taking on world No.1 and reigning World Champion Mostafa Asal in today's semi-finals.