Collision course
The quarter-final positions of the women’s singles have been locked in
The quarter-final positions of the women’s singles have been locked in, with four big game players set on a collision course for the coveted final.
Australian vice-captain Lynsey Armitage progressed to the semi-final of the women’s singles after knocking off 2008 champion Katrina Wright in straight sets.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist had her work cut out for her in the first set, with big scores from former Australian representative Wright keeping her in the game.
Wright got within one shot on the seventh end to remain in contention before Armitage put her foot to the floor on the last two ends to capture the first set.
It was a similar situation in the second set, with Armitage blitzing her way to 5-0 lead before finding herself down 5-6 down with three ends remaining, but the classy Hawk put the on the finishing touches in the last three ends to triumph 8-6, 10-6.
Having already claimed an Australian Open pairs and triples title, the Helensvale gun will be looking to capture her maiden national singles title but does not face an easy route into the big game, with a showdown against an in-form Kellie Bowles, from Warrnambool, imminent.
Bowles, a former Victorian state representative, has been in tremendous form throughout the tournament, knocking off a litany of superstars on way to the semi-final.
She shook the competition when she eliminated world number eight and current Australian women’s singles representative Kelsey Cottrell in round one, and has been unstoppable ever since, gunning down Australia A squad members Carla Odgers and Julie Keegan, and most recently Yarrawonga’s Anne Miles to cement her place against her biggest threat yet.
Meanwhile, it was a tussle of the teenage titans in the other quarter-final, with the defending title holder Lisa Phillips assuring her position in the semis by defeating her fellow recently included Australia squad member Sarah Boddington 7-3, 10-7, 4-1.
Phillips will be looking to become the first player to go-to-back in the Australian Open singles, but faces a tough task in Commonwealth Games silver medallist Claire Duke.
Cabramatta’s Duke advanced after defeating Samantha Wilson in straight sets 9-4, 8-7.
Click here for full results from the 2012 Australian Open.