Shuker and Whiley on collision course at Israel Open

Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley remain on course to face each other in the Israel Open final after the British pair both came through their quarter-final tests with flying colours.

Three-time Paralympian Shuker dispatched Argentina’s Maria Florencia Moreno in straight sets, 6-2 7-5, to secure her place in the final four.

The top seed had previously seen off France’s Charlotte Fairbank in the second round 6-0 6-1 to reach the last eight, where she held her nerve to beat Moreno.

The double Paralympic medallist, who won a hat-trick of doubles titles in South Korea earlier this year, will now take on China’s Zhenzhen Zhu for a place in the final.

And should she reach the silverware showdown, Shuker could face doubles partner Whiley, who she joined forces with to win the Busan Open and Daegu Open last month.

Like Shuker, sixth seed Whiley had a bye in the opening round before defeating China’s Ziying Wang 6-4 1-6 6-0 in the next round to reach the quarter-final stages.

The double Paralympic bronze medallist then overcame Hui Min Huang in the last eight, beating the Chinese player 6-3 6-2 to set up a semi-final clash against Japan’s Manami Tanaka.

Meanwhile, Whiley is also in contention for the doubles title alongside fellow Brit Louise Hunt after the third seeds beat Japan’s Saki Takamuro and China’s Wang 6-4 6-7 (5) [10-5].

The quarter-final victory for Whiley and Hunt means they will take on Huang and Zhu in the last four after the Chinese pairing beat Shuker and her partner Katharina Kruger in the quarters.

There is also still interest for Great Britain in the quad singles, where fourth-seed Antony Cotterill faces a semi-final battle against home favourite Shraga Weinberg.

Cotterill, who defeated Canada’s Mitch McIntyre 6-4 6-2 to reach the last four, will definitely not face fellow Brit James Shaw in the final though after the third seed lost his quarter-final 6-4 6-4 to Haim Lev.