No.7 seed Freddie Jameson and No.6 seed Sophie Fadaely caused two major seeding upsets to gatecrash the semi-finals of the PSA World Championships Oceania qualifying event, defeating No.2 seed Elijah Thomas and top seed Jessica van der Walt, respectively, at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
New Zealand’s Jameson, who impressed at the recent New Zealand Open after receiving a Wildcard entry, delivered a superb performance to hold off a late comeback from compatriot Thomas and advance in five games.
Despite sitting over 80 spots behind Thomas in the PSA Rankings, left-handed Jameson kept his cool after seeing a 2-0 lead slip through his grasp to eventually clinch a dramatic fifth game and advance to the last four by an 11-9, 11-6, 0-11, 6-11, 11-8 scoreline.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Fadaely, the current World No.136, overcame World No.69 van der Walt in a strong four-game showing to set up a semi-final meeting with No.4 seed Ella Jane Lash in the women’s draw.
The other two winners from the women’s event were No.2 seed Kaitlyn Watts and No.3 seed Madison Lyon, who claimed comfortable three-game wins over No.8 seed Erin Classen and No.7 seed Remashree Muniandy.
Elsewhere in the men’s event, No.5 seed Lwamba Chileshe edged out No.3 seed Dylan Molinaro following an entertaining four-game duel, while top seed Joseph White had to be on his mettle to hold off an inspired showing from unseeded compatriot Connor Hayes.
World No.85 White, who won the 2025 Oceania qualifying event, kept his hopes alive of a spot in the main draw of the PSA Squash Tour’s flagship event following a hard-fought 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7 victory after 86 minutes of play.
Unseeded Aussie David Turner was the final player to secure a spot in the last four after he defeated Bradley Fullick in straight games to continue his dream run at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
Results: Men’s Quarter-Finals
[1] Joseph White (AUS) bt Connor Hayes (AUS) 3-2: 9-11, 17-15, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7 (86m)David Turner (AUS) bt Bradley Fullick (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (42m)
[5] Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) bt [3] Dylan Molinaro (AUS) 3-1: 10-12, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 (47m) [7] Freddie Jameson (NZL) bt [2] Elijah Thomas (NZL) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 0-11, 6-11, 11-8 (56m)
