Top local hope Shelley Kitchen takes on world number three Natalie Grinham of the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the New Zealand women's squash Open at Mt Maunganui today, after upsetting world number five Jenny Duncalf of England.
Kitchen beat Duncalf in a thrilling five-gamer 4-11 15-13 11-8 4-11 11-7 on the glass court at Bayfair.
It is the first time that the world number 10 has qualified for a semifinal of a gold star world event, which offers $82,000 in prizemoney.
The other semi-final pits top seed American Natalie Grainger against Omneya Abdel Kawy.
The Egyptian world number seven earlier eliminated local giant-killer Joelle King in the first quarter-final in four games.
There'll definitely be a New Zealander in the men's final with top seed Kashif Shuja playing fellow local Campbell Grayson in the semis and second seed Martin Knight up against Australian Matthew Karwalski.
