LINKOPING, Sweden,  CMC – Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes was beaten by top seed Vanessa Atkinson, of the Netherlands, in the semi-finals of the US$6,000 Swedish Open squash tournament on Saturday.

Atkinson, a former World No.1 repelled a stiff early test from Fernandes and ran out a comfortable winner eventually in straight games, 12-10, 11-5, 11-1 to advance to the final at the Linkoping Squash Centre.

Seventh-seeded Fernandes had reeled off wins over the Czech Republic pair of Veronika  Koukalova and fourth-seeded Lucie Fialova en route to the last four.

In her first full season since her return – in March 2009 – from a career-threatening knee injury, Fernandes was appearing in her second semi-final so far this year on the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) pro circuit.

Currently ranked 62nd in the world, Fernandes dismissed Koukalova 3-0 in her first-round match before tackling the higher ranked Fialova in the quarter-finals.

Fernandes, 26, ousted World No.55 Fialova to earn her spot in the semis.

Atkinson was a tough rival for Fernandes in their semi-final clash.

Coming off a title success in the WISPA Edinburgh the previous weekend, Atkinson is in solid form began purposefully, leading Fernandes 3-1 before the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) champion found her stride.

Fernandes, who had also reached the semis of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell Open last month, took the game to extra points but Atkinson held on well for the 12-10 victory.

In the second game, Atkinson continued to play well and she went to 7-2 quickly before wrapping up the game.

Atkinson, who was World No.1 in 2004/2005 and is currently No.10 in the world, won the third game easily.

She broke Fernandes’ resistance and allowed the Guyanese just one point as she completed a 28-minute victory.

In the final, Atkinson will face her Dutch friend Annelize Naude, the second seed, who eliminated India’s Dipika Pallikal 11-9, 11-8, 14-12 in the other semi-final.