India's top squash player Dipika Pallikal earned a hard fought win over Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana to reach the semifinals of the Texas Open at Houston in USA.Pallikal, with coach and five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in her corner, had to resist a determined fightback by the unseeded Fernandes before prevailing 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 10-12, 11-5 in the quarterfinal played yesterday.The World No.12 from Chennai plays eigth-ranked Madeline Perry of Ireland in the semifinals later today.