TOP seed Julie Pullin had to fight back from a set down to keep alive her hopes of clinching her third National Championship title.

Pullin was stretched to the limit by Annabel Blow, an 18-year-old and one of the leading lights of the youth brigade who are beginning to liven up the British women's game.

The Middlesex 29-year-old lost the first set but called on her experience to win a long match 4-6 6-4 6-4 and set up a last-four meeting with another former champion, Hannah Collin.

The 1999 winner from Surrey moved comfortably into the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-2 win over Anna Hawkins.

After dropping the first two games of the match, the 19-year-old never looked back to book her place in the semi-finals against Pullin.