Duncalf repeats title win as Willstrop exits in Kuwait

Runner-up in the championship three years ago, and winner last year when the event was combined with the US Open, Duncalf reached her third New York final after beating Kasey Brown in five games.

That triumph in the semi-final avenged her defeat by the Australian a week earlier in Mexico.

The 26-year-old world No 2 closed out the match against Massaro 11-6 11-1 11-6 to collect the eighth WISPA Tour title of her career.

"I'm really happy to win here again, especially in three games," said Duncalf.

"We both had tough matches yesterday so I was pleased to keep my concentration and not let up on any of my leads in each game. I felt like I played well and managed to move her around the court.

Leeds's James Willstrop missed out on a place in the final of the Kuwait Open after world No 1 Ramy Ashour defeated him 11-7 8-11 11-9 10-12 11-7 after a tough 82-minute battle.

Willstrop reflected on the positives afterwards, despite the defeat which came after his impressive 85-minute five-game upset over fourth seed Karim Darwish in the previous round.

"I got Ramy to make mistakes, that's something," said Willstrop.

"The last time we played, he'd been on fire, and as far as I remember, he only played one backhand nick the whole match, and that's not bad.

"I think the big match I had last night helped me relax, I mean, it was such a brutal match, I finished late, trying and sleep was a nightmare because of the adrenaline pumping.

"I was still up for it, of course, but not putting too much pressure on myself."

Holland's Vanessa Atkinson, now based in Leeds, has returned to the world's Top 10 after a run of impressive results.

The 34-year-old former world champion, from The Hague, first topped the world rankings in December 2005 before being toppled by Nicol David in August 2006. Tha Malaysian has remained there ever since.

A sensational maiden title triumph in the US Open in Chicago led to Atkinson celebrating her 40th Tour final appearance in the recent Monte Carlo Classic leading to a leap to No8 in the new rankings, her highest position since October 2008.

Duncalf strengthens her position at No2 after successfully defending her title in last week's Carol Weymuller Open in New York.