Hutton Holds Off Khafagy In Cleveland Quarter-Final Thriller

England's world No.16 Jasmine Hutton fended off a spirited resurgence from Malak Khafagy to progress to the semi-finals of Squash in the Land presented by Porsche Beachwood in a pulsating quarter-final at UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute in Cleveland.

Hutton, who lost 3/2 to the Egyptian in their only previous PSA Squash Tour meeting back in 2022 at the New Zealand Open, looked on course for a comfortable victory over her opponent when she took a commanding 2/0 lead.

However, Khafagy produced an inspired fightback by winning the third and fourth games to set up a grandstand finish. Despite seeing one of her match ball opportunities saved, Hutton kept her composure in the tiebreak to convert at the second time of asking to win 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10.

"It was one of those where I played really well in the first two. To be honest I didn't play that well, she made me so edgy today and I just couldn't hit the lines and I wasn't really attacking like I would like to," said Hutton.

"All credit to her - I thought she was the better player today and I was just lucky how I managed to cope in the last couple of points.

"I kept going two points ahead and then playing a really bad point, I kept telling myself to keep digging away and keep digging deep.

"It came to the bottom wire and I had a lucky no let or stroke call and then she hit a great line, and I had to tell myself to win this point or you are probably going to lose this. It was just one of those matches and a bit of rollercoaster to be honest."

World No.5 Olivia Weaver awaits Hutton in Saturday's semis after she triumphed in the all-American battle with Marina Stefanoni.

The US No.1 maintained her perfect streak over her compatriot by not dropping a single game to Stefanoni on Tour, winning 11-7, 11-7, 11-4.

In the men's side of the draw, Gregoire Marche is through to his first semi-final at a Silver event since 2019 after coming from behind to down Nathan Lake.

Marche, whose last appearance in a Silver semi-final came on home soil at the Open de France over six years ago, fought back from 1/0 down to see off Lake 3/1.

"I know Nathan, I have known him for more than 15 years now and we have played a lot in the past," he said.

"I don't like to play him as he is very smart on court and he puts the ball away all the time. He is a lefty so it is different, so on the left side he was very accurate and even on the right.

"I just had to find some sort of solution, it's the first tournament after almost two months for me. I took a break in December and I just wanted to be ready for January so I didn't know how to react physically. I have worked hard but you know I can't spend as much time on court as I used to.

"I didn't know how my body was going to react and yesterday was a tough match as well, and Nathan played two good matches in the first two rounds so I knew I had to be ready for Nathan. I'm glad I got through it in the end."

Marche will face the men's top seed Paul Coll following the world No.2's 3/0 success over Bernat Jaume.

The New Zealand No.1 delivered a solid showing against the world No.36 to chalk up a comprehensive 11-7, 11-3, 11-3 win.