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Weymuller
US Open 2004
14-17 October, New York,
USA, $30k
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17-Oct,
Final:
[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [4]
Linda Elriani (Eng)
6/9, 9/4,
9/6, 9/4 (50m)
Grainger Claims US Open
Mark Devoy
reports from Heights Casino
The crowd at the Heights Casino in New York were not disappointed
tonight, celebrating a home victory as the USA's Natalie Grainger
continued her comeback to the WISPA tour in impressive style with a four
game victory over Linda Elriani.
The first game was tight with both players attacking but making few
errors. Elriani took the early lead, but Grainger, who started slowly,
levelled at 6-all only to succumb 9-6.
Elriani took a 4-0 lead in the second game, but then a turn around saw
Grainger going from 0/4 to 9/4, losing just one serve as she levelled
the match.
The next two games were closely contested but the American's punishing
counter drops took their toll on Elriani, and a very happy Grainger took
her first US Open title in 50 minutes.
A disappointed Elriani said after the match: "It's simple - I didn't
stick to the plan I had thought through before the match, which I knew
would work; burying her deep, playing it very wide, varying the pace and
not going short too soon."
A jubilant Grainger summed up her feelings on winning her country's
prized title for the first time: "I have finally got my name on the
board."
After an eight-month layoff this was Grainger's second successive
victory on the WISPA circuit, and was her first final victory over
Elriani in five attempts.
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Elriani & Grainger
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Weymuller US Open 2004
14-17 Oct, New York,
$30k |
1st Round
Thu 14th |
Quarters
Fri
15th |
Semis
Sat 16th |
Final
Sun 17th |
[1] Cassie
Jackman (Eng)
9/7, 9/4, 9/2
Stephanie Brind (Eng) |
Cassie Jackman
9/4, 9/5, 9/6 (35m)
Nicol David |
Cassie Jackman
5/9, 9/4, 9/3, 6/9, 9/0 (57m)
Natalie Grainger |
Natalie Grainger
6/9, 9/4, 9/6, 9/4 (50m)
Linda Elriani |
[6] Nicol
David (Mas)
9/1, 9/6, 9/3
[Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) |
[3] Natalie
Grainger (Usa)
9/3, 9/6, 9/4
[Q] Amelia Pittock (Aus) |
Natalie Grainger
7/9, 9/4, 9/0, 4/9, 9/3 (65m)
Vicky Botwright |
[8] Vicky
Botwright (Eng)
10/9, 5/9, 9/6, 6/9, 9/1
[Q] Alison Waters (Eng) |
Shelley
Kitchen (Nzl)
3/9, 9/4, 10/8, 9/3
[7] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) |
Jenny Duncalf
9/1, 9/7, 9/1 (32m)
Linda Elriani |
Linda Elriani
9/7, 9/6, 9/6 (55m)
Vanessa Atkinson |
Latasha Khan (Usa)
9/1, 9/6, 9/0
[4] Linda Elriani (Eng) |
Isabelle
Stoehr (Fra)
9/3, 9/3, 9/4
[5] Fiona Geaves (Eng) |
Isabelle
Stoehr
10/8, 9/1, 9/1 (28m)
Vanessa Atkinson |
[Q] Tania
Bailey (Eng)
9/6, 10/9, 3/9, 9/0
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) |
Qualifying Finals:
Tania Bailey (Eng) bt Runa Reta (Can) 9-1, 9-3, 9-2
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Meredeth Quick (Usa) 9-2, 9-6, 9-3
Amelia Pittock (Aus) bt Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) 10-8, 9-3, 9-3
Alison Waters (Eng) bt Melissa Martin (Aus) 9-2, 10-9, 9-4
Qualifying Round One:
Tania Bailey (Eng) Bye
Runa Reta (Can) bt Katy Brewster (Usa) 9/0, 9/0, 9/0
Dominique Lloyd -Walter (Eng) bt Lily Lorentzen (Usa) 9/2, 9/1, 9/0
Meredeth Quick (Usa)) bt Louisa Hall (Usa) 9/6, 9/0, 9/2
Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) bt Julie Lilien (Usa) 9/2, 9/1, 9/0
Amelia Pittock (Aus) Bye
Melissa Martin (Aus) bt Britt Hebden (Usa) 9/0, 9/0, 9/0
Alison Waters (Eng) Bye
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Reports |
16-Oct,
Semi-Finals:
[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [1]
Cassie Jackman (Eng)
5/9, 9/4, 9/3, 6/9, 9/0 (57m)[4]
Linda Elriani (Eng) bt [2]
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) 9/7, 9/6,
9/6 (55m)
Cassie Crashes to Grainger
Mark Devoy
reports from Heights Casino
Both semi-finals of the Weymuller US Open at Heights Casino saw the
seedings upset, as Natalie Grainger ended Cassie Jackman's
attempt to retain her title, and Linda Elriani beat Vanessa
Atkinson.
Grainger, playing only her second event since February, was a
little slow starting as Jackman took the first game. But the US number
one came back strongly, winning numerous points from her backhand drop
played from the back of the court, to take the next two games.
Jackman took the fourth, eliminating the errors that saw her lose the
second and third games, to set up a deciding fifth. Grainger came on
strong, dominating with volleys and good shots forcing two early
errors from Jackman, and then took the game in 7mins – restricting
Jackman to just two serves.
Elriani pulled out all stops and could do no wrong in a tight three
set match. Atkinson played well but became frustrated as Elriani
retrieved and attacked everything she put up.
Will she be able to do the same tomorrow? History is on the
Englishwoman's side as she has won all four finals the pair have
contested since 1996.
But whoever wins, there will be a new name on the trophy ...
15-Oct,
Quarter-Finals:
Top Four move into
Weymuller Semis
The top four seeds will contest the Weymuller US Open at the Height
Casino Club in New York.
Defending champion Cassie Jackman, attempting to win her fifth US
Open title, scored a second straight games victory, beating Malaysia's
Nicol david 9/4, 9/5, 9/6. Jackman's semi-final opponent will be the
USA's Natalie Grainger.
Grainger, playing only her second tournament since taking a break in
February, needed five games to see off the challenge of Vicky Botwright.
Grainger looked in control as she took the third 9/0 to go 2-1 up, but
Botwright slowed the game down, cut out the unforced errors, and clawed
her way back into contention. In the fifth, however, Grainger's backhand
drops caught a tired Botwright in the back of the court and the US No1
came through to win 7-9 9-4 9-0 4-9 9-3 in 65 minutes.
The other semi-final sees England's fourth seed Linda Elriani,
who eased past an inconsistent Jenny Duncalf 9/1 9/7 9/1, face the
Netherland's world number three Vanessa Atkinson.
Atkinson ended the run of France's Isabelle Stoehr, recovering from 8-2
down to take a tight first game. Stoehr wasted six game balls, and a
string of errors allowed Atkinson back into the game before racing away
to a 10/8 9/1 9/1 victory.
14-Oct, Round One:
Jackman on course as
Stoehr stuns Geaves
Cassie Jackman's bid for a fifth US Open title got off to a
smooth start as the Weymuller US Open moved into main draw action at New
York's Height's Casino.
Jackman, the defending champion and top seed, beat compatriot Stephanie
Brind in straight games and now meets Malaysia's Nicol David, who
enjoyed a similar scoreline against qualifier Dominique Lloyd-Walter.
Hopes of a home victory rest with Natalie Grainger, who made a
successful comeback to the WISPA tour in Atlanta last week. Grainger
eased past Australia's Amelia Pittock to set up a quarter-final clash
with Vicky Botwright, who needed five games to see of the
challenge of Alison Waters.
USA wild-card Latasha Khan couldn't get past England's Linda Elriani,
who faces an all-English quarter-final against Jenny Duncalf, who
recovered from a first-game loss to beat Kiwi Shelley Kitchen in four
games.
Second seed Vanessa Atkinson was also tested in four games by
Tania Bailey, and faces an unexpected quarter-final opponent in France's
Isabelle Stoehr, who created the upset of the day in defeating
fifth seed Fiona Geaves.
Jackman Aims For
Fifth US Open Title
England's world No2 Cassie Jackman is in line to win her fifth US
Open title when the Women's Weymuller US Open gets underway on Thursday
14th at the Heights Casino in New York.
The defending champion is top seed in the event and due to begin her
2004 campaign against compatriot Stephanie Brind, the world No19
from Kent. Jackman, from Norfolk, is scheduled to face second seed
Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, in the final in what would
be a repeat of last year's semi-final.
Atkinson's first round opponent is English qualifier Tania Bailey,
the former world No4 from Lincolnshire who is fighting back to top form
after a series of setbacks. The 25-year-old cruised through her
qualifying final against Runa Reta, beating the Canadian 9-1 9-3 9-2.
Top US player Natalie Grainger will also be looking for glory in
her national open event. The Washington-based world No5 is seeded three
and arrives in New York fresh from her comeback victory in last week's
Atlanta Masters in Georgia.
Grainger faces Australian qualifier Amelia Pittock in the opening
round, en-route to a projected semi-final clash with Jackman.
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