Beachill justified his top billing in Nottingham

Britain's squash world number one Lee Beachill beat seventh seed Joseph Kneipp to set up a tantalising semi-final against David Palmer at the British Open.

Beachill beat Australian Kneipp 11-8 11-7 9-11 11-7 in an hour.

Palmer, who has twice won the British Open, saw off Frenchman Gregory Gaultier 11-6 4-11 11-2 11-2.

Beachill said he was expecting a difficult semi-final: "You know when you walk onto the court with David, it's going to be a tough match."

Second-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou reached his second British Open semi-final in three years after fighting back from a game down to beat Australia's Anthony Ricketts, the 11th seed, 7-11 11-9 11-4 11-6 .

The 28-year-old former world number one will face Egypt's fifth seed Amr Shabana in the last four.

The world number seven from Cairo swept to an 11-3 11-8 11-8 win against England's fourth seed Nick Matthew.

In the women's event, third seed Vanessa Atkinson moved comfortably into the semi-finals for the second time.

The Dutch player, winner of six international titles this year, beat England's Jenny Duncalf for the loss of only 10 games.