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Thu 12th, Day THREE, Quarter-Finals:
Laura joins top three seeds in women's semis
Quarter-finals day at the Jersey Squash Classic in St Clement,
and there was one significant upset in the women's draw at
Jersey Squash and Racket Club.
 Top
seed Millie Tomlinson got the matches under way and
looked in good form against fellow English qualifier Rachael
Chadwick, who suffered from too many unforced errors in the
early stages. Chadwick settled and led the third 7-3 and 10-8
but Tomlinson took the final four points to close out the win.
"I was very nervous when I was down in the third," said Millie,
enjoying her first trip to Jersey. "She'd stepped up the pace
and I was happy and relieved to get through in the end."
 She'll
face another qualifier in the semis after Laura Pomportes
continued her impressive run, beating fourth seed Gina Kennedy
in four games.
"It's my first PSA tournament after almost a year out with
injury," said the Frenchwoman who has just returned from the
European Teams in Warsaw. "I knew she's a good upcoming player,
and she made it very tough after I played well in the first two
games."
 Second
seed Hania El Hammamy, the 15-year-old Egyptian who has
already won three British Junior Open titles, was tested in the
first two games by New Zealand's Eleanor Epke before taking
control of the match in the last two games.
"She played well," admitted Hania, "I needed to change my game
and attack more, and my shots started going in well."
 In
the semi-final she'll play South African third seed Alexandra
Fuller, who recovered from a game down to beat Swiss Nadia
Pfister, playing in her first PSA quarter-final. "I was very
nervous at the start," said Fuller, "I put a lot of pressure on
myself to win and I had to try to capitalise on her mistakes. I
was relieved to get through in three, I'll need to play better
tomorrow."
Seeds survive in men's quarters
The men's semis will also feature three of the top seeds, but
all had to work hard to secure their places.
 Top
seeded Aussie Matt Hopkin won an up and down five setter
against young Italian Yuri Farnetti, and in the end was grateful
to take the third 15/13 as Farnetti levelled then faded in the
decider.
"I was feeling relaxed after winning the first quickly," said
Hopkin, "but he played smart, mixed up the pace and changed his
game tactics after each game. I've got a few things to fix for
tomorrow."
 His
semi-final opponent will be third seeded Egyptian teenager
Youssef Soliman, who recovered from a game down to beat
determined Czech opponent Ondrej Uherka, saving three game balls
to take the fourth 12/10.
"He played well in the first but then I took the next two games
and was feeling comfortable, I don't know what happened," said
Soliman. "But at 10-7 I knew I didn't want it to go to a fifth!"
 Third
seeded Portuguese Rui Soares needed five games to get
past England's Nick Mulvey, who seemed to tire at the end of the
fourth game as Soares rediscovered his early control. "I never
really felt comfortable," admitted Soares, "sometimes you just
have to dig in and that's what I did today. I'll have to play
better tomorrow."
 Having
beaten the second seed yesterday, Mike Harris made it
through to the semi-finals for the second year in a row as he
beat training partner Sam Ellis in three well-contested games.
"It's always tough playing a mate," he said, "there was never
going to be any big surprises as we know each other so well, but
I just managed to maintain my focus better at the end of the
games. I hope I can go one better than last year now."
Semi-finals evening starts at 18.00 tomorrow.
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