MEN’S HI-TEC WORLD OPEN SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS – QUARTER FINALS
Spurred on by the capacity partisan crowd, the third seed from Yorkshire led after the first and third games - but the experienced fifth seed Palmer romped to a 5-1 lead in the fourth, then a 4-1 lead in the decider before taking the match in 78 minutes.
"I'm so envious for players like James having the British Open and now the World Open here - we don't get tournaments like this in Australia." said the two-time champion from Lithgow in New South Wales. "That felt like a final. I can't imagine playing in front of a home crowd like this!"
"Perhaps he was under pressure. The key for me was the start of the fourth and fifth games.
"As I said at the British Open, he'll win that title one day - and he'll come back to win this one too," added the former world number one.
Willstrop was devastated by the loss: "He was awesome tonight - in those last two games he was better than me by a good distance.
"It was the most calm performance I've seen from him. He handled the pressure well.
"He's a smart guy," added the England number one. "He's managed to stay in excellent condition. I felt more in control in the British Open final."
Palmer will now meet Karim Darwish, the No7 seed who beat England's Adrian Grant 12-10 11-7 11-7 in 47 minutes.
Defending champion Amr Shabana was in stunning form to beat compatriot Mohamed El Shorbagy, a 17-year-old qualifier, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6 in just 20 minutes.
In one of the most exciting 'draws' in squash, the world number one will face his country's newest star Ramy Ashour, the 21-year-old fourth seed 2-11 11-8 11-9 11-7 in 58 minutes.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-2, 11-3, 11-6
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [8] Nick Matthew (ENG) 2-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7
[5] David Palmer (AUS) bt [3] James Willstrop (ENG) 5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5
[7] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [14] Adrian Grant (ENG) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7
Issued by iSPORTmedia