by Ian Marshall

Matters level at two games apiece, in the fifth Natalia Partyka led 5-2 at the change of ends; then later at 9-7, she did not win anither point.

“I tried to relax and take it easy before the match because I knew Natalia wasn’t an easy opponent.  She won the second and third games, but I just focused on one game at a time.

I think the strategy I decided to adopt before the match helped. I’m very happy because I have never beaten her before! I never thought I could either. I think my state of mind today is a lot better than usual too. I’ll just try my best for final, where I’ll be playing against a Brazilian player. I haven’t played with her in ages; the last time we played was four or five years ago.

In the final game, when I was trailing 6-9 score, but I just told myself to focus on winning one point at a time.

Disappointment for Natalia Partyka but she was quite phlegmatic.

“I was leading, I made easy mistakes, I became nervous but she played well. I lost today but I have won four times so that shows I am a good player.” Natalia Partyka

In the final Yang Qian meets Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre; in the counterpart semi-final, she overcame Chinese Taipei’s Tien Shiau Wen (12-14, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7).

The final will be played on Monday 30th August.