Jenny, Kasey set up title clash in WISPA Masters

Top seed and world number two Jenny Duncalf of England survived some early challenge before edging past third seed Camille Serme of France 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Punj Lloyd WISPA Masters squash event in New Delhi on Saturday.

Duncalf will meet second seed and world ranked seventh Australian Kasey Brown in the final on Sunday.

Brown had defeated fifth seed Annie Au of Hong Kong with an identical 3-2 scoreline in other semi-final match.

In the first semi-final, Duncalf was pushed to the wall by the world ranked 10th Serme but the English women eventually came out victorious 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 in 49 minutes at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.

After losing the first game, Serme made a strong comeback to level the score at 1-1.

The 28-year-old Duncalf, however, got her act together quickly and surged ahead pocketing the third game with seven straight points, only to see Serme level the scores yet again and take the encounter into the decider.

However, in the decider Duncalf showed her class and dominated the centre court with tight volleys, which her opponent had no answer, to book her place in the final of the $36,500 event.

"It's good to finally win and reach the final. The match was tough and Serme made a strong comeback. Happy that I won," said Duncalf after the match.

The other semi-final between Brown and Annie was an equally gruelling affair with neither of the two ready to give an inch to the other.

Brown staved off some late resistance from world Annie before emerging victorious 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 2-11, 11-8.

It was a close encounter with fortunes fluctuating from one end to the other but Brown kept her calm and raised her game when it mattered most to bag it in 64 minutes.

"Annie played wit a good game plan but I've played her before. I've been training hard for the tournament so there was still enough energy left after back-to-back five setters. But it is obviously hard to stay pumped throughout the match," said Brown.