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Friday, 2 August, 2002, 20:20 GMT 21:20 UK
Fitz-Gerald shocked in doubles
Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald's hopes of a golden treble were dashed after she and team-mate Liz Irving were surprisingly beaten in the women's doubles.
They went down 15-11 15-5 to England's fourth-seeded Linda Charman and Fiona Geaves.
It was Irving's last game before retirement.
The English pair will now face team-mates Cassie Jackman and Tania Bailey in Saturday's semi-finals.
"We stuck to our tactics really well and didn't falter," said 30-year-old Charman.
"Sarah made a lot of mistakes, which isn't like her, and we kept the pressure on."
Fitz-Gerald, who won the singles and also has high hopes for the mixed doubles, admitted she had been the weakest link.
"I let my partner down," said the 33-year-old.
"I didn't play well at all. It's disappointing for me but especially so for Liz because I really wanted her to get a medal."
Jackman, who collected a bronze from the singles, is now certain to end up with another medal after she and Bailey beat Karen Hargreaves and Katrina Hogan ofWales 15-4 15-4.
England pairs get byes
In the other semi-final, the top-seeded Grinham sisters of Australia will meet New Zealand's Carol Owens and Leilani Rorani.
In the men's doubles, the two England pairs both topped their qualifying section and earned a bye into the last eight as the round of 16 comprised only 12 teams.
Singles runner-up Peter Nicol and his partner Lee Beachill will meet Welsh duo Alex Gough and David Evans.
Defending champions Mark Chaloner and Paul Johnson take on Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman and Shahid Khan.
The most impressive result of the day was the 15-9 11-15 15-11 triumph by Gavin Jones and Scott Fitzgerald of Wales over Canada's Graham Ryding and Shahier Razik.
The Welshmen are both well below the Canadians in the singles world rankings but must keep up their good form as they next face Australian top seeds David Palmer and Paul Price.
In the mixed doubles, English top seeds Walker and Geaves lost their final group match so must play Australians Price and Fitz-Gerald.
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