KL Open: Duncalf safely into last four

JENNY DUNCALF remains on course for a final showdown with world No 1 Nicol David after reaching the last four of the KL Open in Malaysia.

Duncalf was forced to earn her place in the last four the hard way, however, and looked to be heading out when opponent Laura Massaro earned herself a match point in the fourth game.

But the sixth seed sustained an ankle injury which forced her to retire hurt, enabling Duncalf to go through 11-7 4-11 10-12 10-11 after a gruelling 66 minutes.

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Duncalf endured an easier time in her first round clash when she defeated Egypt's Engy Kheirallah 11-4 11-6 11-7.

She will now meet Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy, while David – ranked No 1 in the world since August 2006 – faces England's Alison Waters in the other semi-final.

David was also made to work hard for victory, eventually overcoming determined Australian Kasey Brown in the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold event.

David prevailed only after tie-breaks in the first two games – but then overwhelmed the No8 seed in the third game to record a 12-10, 14-12, 11-1 victory.

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In the men's event, favourite and world No 1 Ramy Ashour saw off the challenge of Aamir Atlas Khan from Pakistan and will meet homegrown Ong Beng Hee, who defeated Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 7-11, 8-11, 16-14, 11-4, 11-8 in 80 minutes.

The other semi-final will be between Beng Hee's fellow Malaysian, Mohd Azlan Iskandar, who beat Australia's Stewart Boswell, and No 2 seed Karim Darwish, from Egypt, who saw off Boswell's compatriot Cameron Pilley.

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