Macree into first national final

From: Ananova, UK - 15 Feb 2003

Rebecca Macree reached the British National Squash Championships for the first time with a win over top seed Linda Charman.

Macree, the profoundly player girl from Essex, was making her 16th appearance in the competition and her 10-9 9-1 9-6 win at Manchester's Sportcity marks one of the best wins of her career.

Charman, a finalist three times but never a winner, started this tournament as favourite.

Macree, who played some telling shots right through the match, clinched victory with a well-masked forehand shot that wrong-footed Charman.

Men's top seed and world number one Peter Nicol reached his fourth final by ending the giant-killing exploits of Yorkshire teenager James Willstrop with a 15-8 15-13 15-11 win.

Willstrop lost the first game badly but once his nerves settled he attacked Nicol with complete abandon.

Nicol was full of praise for his young opponent.

He said: "He is a very clever player and certainly knows what he is doing. He used the length well and controlled several rallies."

Copyright © 2003 Ananova Ltd