Top seed Nele Gillis defeated England’s Lucy Beecroft (PSA 28/N.5) in five sets after 59 minutes, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5 and 11-8 in her quarter-final. Malaysia’s Ifa Azman (PSA 31/N.4) awaits in the last four.
Second seed Tinne Gilis needed three sets against Hong Kong’s Tsz-Wing Tong (PSA 46/N.7): 11-4, 11-7 and 11-9 after half an hour. In the final he faces Welshman Desney Evans (PSA 30/N.3).
The Gillies sisters are the two top-ranked players in New Zealand after the loss of American Amanda Sobie (PSA 4) and New Zealand title winner Joel King (PSA 8). Both players are battling injuries.
Last week, Nele Gillis reached the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open Squash, a PSA World Tour event with a platinum label ($190,000). In November she won the Singapore Open (PSA World Tour Gold/$112,500) in the final defeating sister Tin.
The New Zealand Open is the last leg of the PSA World Tour before the season finale Masters Squash. Eight players of the year can participate. The tournament is traditionally held in June of the following year. Nelle Gillis is currently ranked fourth in the Masters rankings and Tinne Gillis is seventh.
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