Mardle's late rally was not enough

He had never progressed past the first round before and admitted his nerves got to him as Mardle rallied.

"I tensed up," said Walton. "I don't know if it was because I was so close to the final. But then I relaxed again and my shoulders dropped in the last set.

"I'll now have a bit of a celebration and then ask for Mervyn King for a practice session tomorrow before the final."

Walton had only dropped one set before this match and his late slip up came when his accuracy on the doubles deserted him.

Top seed Merv King was among the players cast aside by Walton en route to the quarter-finals and he began the match like a man in form.