Einarson eliminates Homan in Co-op Canadian Open women’s quarterfinals
CAMROSE, Alta. — Kerri Einarson’s quest to complete a career Grand Slam continues after ousting Rachel Homan 7-2 during the Co-op Canadian Open women’s quarterfinals.
Einarson, from Gimli, Man., has won five titles in the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling series with just the Co-op Canadian Open from the “original four” major tournaments missing from her resume.
Team Einarson, who also beat Team Homan in last month’s WFG Masters women’s final, advanced to the evening semifinals to face Team Isabella Wranå from Sweden.
Wrana stole back-to-back single points in the seventh and eighth ends to rally and stun Winnipeg’s Team Jennifer Jones 4-3.
It was all Einarson against Homan, who opened with the hammer but was forced to a single in the first frame. Einarson counted three in the third and stole two in the fifth for a 5-1 hold on the match.
The record 12-time Grand Slam women’s champion Homan, from Ottawa, was held to another lonely point in the sixth and Einarson tacked two more on the board in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Einarson is also looking to reach a record sixth consecutive Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling women’s final.
Team Eun-Ji Gim of South Korea and Japan’s Team Satsuki Fujisawa will meet in the other women’s semifinal matchup.
Gim got past Winnipeg’s Team Abby Ackland 6-5 and Fujisawa defeated defending champions Team Anna Hasselborg from Sweden 8-7.
Hasselborg, second Agnes Knochenhauer and lead Sofia Mabergs were just playing as a trio this week. Third Sara McManus is on maternity leave and alternate Therese Westman fell ill prior to the start of the tournament.
The men’s semifinals feature Team Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., vs. Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin and Calgary’s Team Brendan Bottcher vs. Team Joël Retornaz from Italy.
Watch the men’s and women’s semifinals with around-the-rings coverage at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. local time on Sportsnet 360 or SN NOW.
Both finals are scheduled for Sunday.
