Final:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-7, 10-8, 6-9, 1-9,
9-6 (72m)
In a high-quality climax to the Women's Vassar College Class of 1932 Open,
Australian favourite Rachael Grinham needed 72 minutes to seal victory
over second-seeded US star Natalie Grainger to claim the WISPA
World Tour Silver squash title in Poughkeepsie in the US state of
New York.
Grainger led in both of the first two games - and fought back from 4-8 down
in the second to draw level in the game. But it was Grinham, the
recently-crowned British Open champion, who claimed the early
advantage by opening up a 2/0 lead - as the packed crowd sensed, perhaps,
that this match would only go another game.
At four-all in the third, Grainger had an excellent spell and went 7-4 up -
urged on by the crowd who wanted to see the match go the distance. Grinham
battled back to 7-6, but the Pan American Games champion from Washington DC
maintained good length on her volleys and powered on to win the game to
reduce the deficit.
"Buoyed by her success, Grainger was like a gunslinger in game four," said
tournament spokesman Tony Brown. The second seed powered to victory
for the loss of just a single point. The players had been on court for an
hour, and it was all tied up at 2/2.
In
the decider, Grainger led after the first two points, but the Queenslander
came back to move 6-2 ahead. Grainger managed to battle back to 6-6 - but
when Grinham moved on to match-ball at 8-6, the Australian took the title
when Grainger hit a volley in the front court just inches from the front wall
that came back and hit the American.
"It had been breathtaking action," said Brown after Grinham's 9-7, 10-8, 6-9,
1-9, 9-6 win. "The applause was loud, long and well-deserved. A great final
and definitely the best of the seven that have taken place at Vassar.
"There were no bad rallies in this final, absolutely none at all. This was
world class squash and these athletes are second to none on this planet,"
added the College's Men's & Women's Rugby Coach.
"What a shame that this sport doesn't get the coverage it so richly
deserves. It is powerful and fast-paced. It is skillful and would test the
fittest athletes in the world. Above all it is a huge test of character and
these WISPA players are quite simply superb. It is inspiring to watch the
incredible shot-making and one marvels at the fitness displayed."
Grinham's success extends her record over Grainger to nine successive Tour
wins since November 2002. The triumph also take her career WISPA title tally
to 26 - four more than her nearest rival, Nicol David, on the current
Tour, and only one behind New Zealander Carol Owens and two shy of
England's Cassie Jackman.
