AUSSIE Liz Irving set up an intriguing final with world number one Michelle Martin after trouncing England's Martine Le Moignan in the Pak Fah Yeow women's squash Open yesterday.
Fourth-seeded Irving was in devastating form, crushing an ailing Le Moignan 9-7, 9-2, 9-2 in the second semi-final at the Hongkong Squash Centre after Martin had defeated Suzanne Horner 10-9, 9-6, 9-6.
''I suddenly feel I'm peaking this week after playing very badly in Japan last week,'' said an elated Irving after her third straight defeat of world number two Le Moignan.
''I felt sharp and confident with my shots but this is perhaps the easiest match I had against Martine because she was having back problems which affected her.
''My only problem was losing my concentration and going walkabout. But I didn't do it.'' Le Moignan put up a spirited challenge early in the match but her back was clearly affecting her as she could hardly bend or stoop when Irving played drop shots. Irving capitalised on Le Moignan's handicap to come back from 6-7 down in the opening game and kept the pressure on as she breezed through the next two games.
Left-handed Le Moignan said: ''I went to the chiropractor in the afternoon but there was little he could do for me because the muscles on my lower back were inflamed. The pain is worse than it was a day or two ago and I probably need to give it a good rest.'' World number one Martin is one step from her fourth straight Grand Prix title which started with a victory over Irving in the Guernsey Open final two months ago.
