Tesni Evans Stuns Top Seed To Reach British Champs Final

Tesni Evans has a great chance of retaining her AJ Bell British Championship title after a stunning victory over No 1 seed Laura Massaro.

The 26-year-old repeated her semi-final victory over Massaro from last year to reach Sunday’s final.

Evans, seeded third,  came from a game down and from trailing by four points in the fourth game to triumph in 50 minutes at Nottingham University.

The Rhyl-based ace triumphed 8-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-8.

“Laura is one of the toughest players you can meet, it’s always a tight battle and today was no different,” said Evans, who became the first Welsh woman to win the national title in Manchester last year.

“At 4-8 in the fourth I was thinking about the fifth, but managed to push through.

“I’m just happy to be in the final and looking forward to another great match.”

Tesni Evans came from one set down to beat top seed Massaro

But there will be no repeat of last year’s final as No 2 seed Alison Waters lost to Emily Whitlock.

The No 4 seed triumphed 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-2 in 42 minutes to reach her first final.

Evans lost her last meeting with world No 7 Massaro in a five-set battle at the Monte Carlo Classic in December.

But the world No 11 proved the stronger this time against an opponent she beat on her way to bronze at last April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.