Top seeds through in Kuwait

Women's quarter-finals:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 10-8, 7-9, 9-6, 9-0 (51m)

[6] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-1, 7-9, 9-4, 9-0 (46m)

[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-4, 9-1, 5-9, 4-9, 9-6 (65m)

[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-5, 9-0, 9-1 (30m)

In the women's WISPA Gold tournament, sixth seed Natalie Grainger celebrated her first appearance in a WISPA Grand Prix event as a US citizen by upsetting England's No4 seed Tania Bailey 9-1, 7-9, 9-4, 9-0.

"I came out well, and felt good at the end, just had a sticky patch in the middle," was how the 29-year-old summed up the victory which takes the US National champion into a semi-final against top seed Nicol David.

The world number one from Malaysia relived her long-time junior rivalry with Omneya Abdel Kawy when she beat the seventh seed from Cairo 10-8, 7-9, 9-6, 9-0.

"I could only find my rhythm in patches in the first two games, and she was playing well," said Nicol David later.

"I'm pleased that I found the way in the end - I kept telling myself that whatever it is the game's not over until it's over, I always seem to find my best game when I'm down," explained the 23-year-old from Penang who is now well into her second year without a defeat to her name!

The other semi-final will pitch Australia's No2 seed Natalie Grinham against England's fifth seed Vicky Botwright. Grinham despatched England's unseeded Jenny Duncalf 9-5, 9-0, 9-1, while Botwright ended the giant-killing run of Shelley Kitchen, beating the Kiwi qualifier 9-4, 9-1, -9, 4-9, 9-6 in 65 minutes.

Women's semi-final line-up:

[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [6] Natalie Grainger (USA)

[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG)

For more information, please visit the following websites:

www.sheikhasquash.com/ or www.squashsite.org.uk/kuwait/

Issued on behalf of: PSA/WISPA

For further information: Howard Harding

Tel: (44) 1737-243333 or (mobile) (44) 7773-325130