Palmer prepares to end Matthew’s run in Canberra

Sheffield’s world No 1 made it through to the last four of the event, but was pushed hard by the Netherlands’s Laurens Jan Anjema before prevailing 11-5 11-9 7-11 11-5 in just over an hour.

There was agony for fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop though, who was defeated 7-11 12-10 11-4 11-5 by France’s Gregory Gaultier, who will now face second seed Ramy Ashour.

Former world No 1 Palmer, unseeded for the event, made it through to the last four after defeating third seed Karim Darwish 11-3 10-12 11-8 12-10.

“I felt before the match that little buzz that I’ve not had this week,” said Matthew, afterwards.

“I felt that I was up for a big match and I started really well. I scrapped really well – if things are not going well that’s one thing I can rely on, to scrap hard and fight for every point.”

In the women’s draw, Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf made it through to the last four after needing four games to get rid of 10th seed Natalie Grinham, formerly of Austrlaia but now a Dutch citizen.

After winning 11-4 12-10 8-11 11-8, world No 2 Duncalf will now face defending champion Madeleine Perry, from Ireland, who also took four games to get past New Zealand’s Joelle King, running out a 11-3 2-11 12-10 11-9 winner.