|
|
|
TODAY in Belfast: Fri
24th: Quarter-Finals
|
|
|
End of British
Hopes
in the Ulster Hall...
Steve Cubbins reports from
Belfast
The British bid for success in the Women's World Open was dashed in
the first three matches in tonight's quarter-finals at the Ulster
Hall in Belfast when England's Tania Bailey and Laura Lengthorn and
Irish hope Madeline Perry were each blown away in straight games.
Natalie Grinham took on England's Tania Bailey, and each game
was well-contested with the Australian racing to a 7/1 lead in the
first before clinching it 9/5. Bailey picked up in the second, had
game ball at 8/7 but couldn't convert it. From 4-all in the second
Grinham pulled away, winning the match on a stroke.
By contrast Natalie Grainger made short work of local
favourite Madeline Perry, overpowering the Irish champion with an
impressive display of attacking squash that never let her opponent
into the match and left the expectant crowd quiet. Perry threatened
briefly in the middle of the second, but the former world number one
stepped back on the gas to wrap up a fine performance.
Next up, Rachael Grinham joined her sister in the semis as
she ended English hopes, despatching the in-form Laura Lengthorn,
again in straight games. The Australian's precise play, with
trademark delicate boasts and lobs, gave her the first two games
comfortable. At 6/1 in the third Lengthorn threatened to extend the
match, but Grinham regrouped to take the victory.
To complete the semi-final lineup, defending champion and world
number one Nicol David wowed the Ulster Hall crowd as she
beat Omneya Abdel Kawy in another three-game match. Nicol started at
her usual fast pace, going 5/0 up in the first, but Kawy, going for
her shots as ever, recovered to lead 8/5.
A typical Nicol comeback
saw her take the game in a single hand, and in the next two the
Malaysian absorbed everything Kawy could throw at her - and she
threw a lot. Fast rallies, every shot in the book and incredible
retrieving gave the Northern Ireland fans a treat, and Nicol a spot
in the semis.
Semi-finals at 3pm on Saturday ...
|
Asides Issue #2
Photo Galleries
|
|
Grainger delighted |
Bailey at full stretch |
Natalie's pleased |
Full house at Ulster Hall |
Family celebration for Nicol |
|
[4]
Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
[7] Tania Bailey (Eng) 9/5, 10/8, 9/5
(56m)
 "We
always have close battles, so I'm more than happy to get off in
three.
"We've played a lot this year, four times and I haven't played
that many tournaments. We know each other's game so it's down to
whose game is better on the day.
"I felt quite comfortable out there today, she surprised me with a
few shots but generally I felt in control."
 "After
losing the first like that I thought I came back and played well,
but it just wasn't my day.
"I couldn't have done any more in some of
the rallies, but she kept getting it back and putting in some really
good drops.
"I should have taken the second, you can't miss those opportunities
against these girls. And I was feeling good in the fourth, but
serving out at 4/1 up wasn't a good idea!
"I enjoy playing the top girls, the top three or four are a bit
ahead and it's always good to play at a higher level."
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
[14]
Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt
[8] Madeline Perry (Irl) 9/2,
9/4, 9/5 (32m)
 "I
was really fired up for that, and I was ready for a hard game.
"I knew I needed to get onto the balls as fast as I could, and
attack at every chance to put Madeline under pressure, an
fortunately it all seemed to go my way today.
"I know the crowd will be disappointed, but I was pleased to hear
them applauding when we played good squash ... I hope they'll be on
my side tomorrow!
 "I'm
gutted, she played so well from the start. I just never got into it,
she was so sharp, I couldn't get into any sort of a rhythm and was
panicking, I didn't really play squash.
"I know she comes out fast, but she kept it up for three games. I
just want to start again!
"I wasn't nervous, I thought it was a great opportunity to get into
the semis here in Belfast. But it's been an experience I'll never
forget, and hopefully it will give squash here in Ireland a boost."
 |
 |
 |
[3]
Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt
[11] Laura Lengthorn (Eng) 9/2, 9/3, 9/6 (34m)
 "I'm
just glad to win in three, last time we played, at the British Open,
I was match ball down, and she's been playing really well recently
so I knew it would be tough. You have to be 100% against any of the
top players these days.
"I played well out there, I focussed well and I was very happy with
that.
"I'm always nervous at the start of a tournament, but now that I'm
at the point I was seeded to reach, I can go on with nothing to lose, all
the pressure is on Nicol.
"Nicol's on such a good run, I don't care about the rankings or
which tournament it is, it's an aim to find a way to beat her ..."
 "She
was just too good today, everything she hit seemed to go up, her
drop shots were just so good, and my length wasn't good enough.
"I wasn't nervous at all, I wanted to try to take them opportunity
of reaching the semis, but she was just too good today.
 |
|
[1]
Nicol David (Mas) bt
[9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 10/8, 9/2, 9/4 (36m)
"I know Omneya is going to play her
shots, if you give her room she goes for it. So I worked hard to
keep it away from her and force some errors, and thankfully it
worked.
"When I was down in the first I knew that if I hung in there she
might go for some shots and maybe make some errors ...
"My focus was there in the second and third games and I
finished it off well.
"This is the tournament we're all geared up for, so hopefully I can
play as well as that, or maybe better, tomorrow.
"It's a big game tomorrow."
 "She gets everything, and makes so few errors, trying to win a point
is so hard.
"At 8/5 she gave me and easy shot, and of course I like drop shots so
I had to go for it, but I played the worst drop shot ever and she
took over from there ..."
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ireland Expects ...
preview
 ...
but then so does England, Australia, Egypt and Malaysia. Local
interest will definitely be centred on today's second match though,
as Northern Ireland's own Madeline Perry takes on yesterday's
giant-killer Natalie Grainger. As a former world number one
it's hard to picture Natalie in that mould, but she starts as the
underdog nevertheless.
That match is sandwiched between two Anglo-Aussie clashes, with the
English camp hoping Natalie and Rachael Grinham will prove
less dominant than their cricketing comrades down under as they take
on Tania Bailey and Laura Lengthorn.
Last but far from least, two former world junior champions clash.
Nicol David has since moved on to claim the senior title which
she defends here, but Omneya Abdel Kawy has all of Egypt
behind her, just as David proudly carries the Malaysian flag.
|
|
|
