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Women's World Open
20-26 November
2006 |
Colin
McQuillan
Reports |
.
Draw
. Final
.
Semi Finals
.
Q/Finals
. DAY 2
.
DAY 1
.
Qualifying
. Previews |
Final
Defending Champion Nicol
David Survives Marathon World Open Final
In a marathon final, which
Nicol David led for the first time only in
the fifth game, the Malaysian world number one
successfully defended her Women's World Open
Championship title when she beat Australia's
Natalie Grinham 1-9, 9-7, 3-9, 9-5, 9-2
at the Ulster Hall in Belfast to
extend her winning run to 33 matches.
David, with five successive
WISPA World Tour titles to her credit
since losing to Grinham in the Commonwealth
Games in March, was overwhelming favourite
in the richest ever women's event – and arrived
in the final without having dropped a game.
But fourth seed Grinham, who
followed her victory over David in Melbourne by
clinching the singles gold medal – swiftly
followed by gold in both the women's doubles and
mixed doubles events – raced to a 9-1 victory in
the first game and a 3-0 lead in the second
before the Malaysian fought back to draw level.
After taking the third, the
28-year-old Queenslander battled hard in the
fourth – but David maintained her pressure to
draw level for the second time.
When David sped to a 4-0 lead
in the decider, it was the first time she had
been in front in the match. But the 23-year-old
from Penang - being avidly supported by her
parents and Malaysia's Ambassador to Ireland,
His Excellency Siddiq Firdause -
persevered to record her strength-sapping
victory after 96 minutes, the longest-recorded
final in Women's World Open history.
"It was so intense all the
way," said a relieved David afterwards. "I
really had to work her as she worked the back
court really well today – she's so fast and
quick.
"In the fifth game, I needed
to make sure I got a lead – which gave me the
confidence to go forward," explained David, only
the fourth player in the event's 27-year history
to successfully defend the title.
"I'm so pleased with the way
I played. I got so emotional – but I didn't
realise how much until the final shot," added
David, who tearfully left the court to a
standing ovation from the packed and highly
enthusiastic Ulster Hall crowd.
The Australian runner-up
admitted to being "sadly happy with the result"
when she spoke later.
"I can't think of anything I
could have done better," said Grinham junior,
who was supported by a back-up team which
included older sister Rachael Grinham,
beaten by David in the semi-finals 24 hours
earlier; husband Tommy Berden, the Dutch
squash international; and new fitness coach
Alistair McCaw, the Amsterdam-based South
African who was back in the city of his birth
for the first time for more than twenty years.
"I gave it all in the fourth
game – I really wanted that game, but I felt I
let her dictate the play. And then she came out
better in the fifth," said Grinham.
"I think I'm as fit as I've
ever been – but I can definitely get fitter. I
didn’t think there was a big gap between us.
"I fought all the way to the
end – but Nicol deserved that match, she ran it
down. I think I'll feel the pain tomorrow,"
acknowledged the world No4 from Toowoomba.
Nicol David now has to turn
her attention on reclaiming the Asian Games
gold medal from regional rival Rebecca Chiu,
the Hong Kong No1 who wrested the title from her
four years ago. The Malaysian star first plans
a few days' rest with her parents, who will be
visiting her Amsterdam base for the first time.
The 2006 Asian Games take
place from 10-14 December in Doha, Qatar.
Semi Finals
Nicol David & Natalie Grinham To Contest Belfast
World Open Final
Defending champion Nicol David, the world
number one from Malaysia who today (Saturday)
stretched her unbeaten run to 32 international
matches since losing to Natalie Grinham in
the Commonwealth Games in March, will meet
the Australian in Sunday's final of the Women's
World Open Championship at the Ulster Hall
in Belfast.
Grinham, the 28-year-old Queenslander who went on
to win a record three gold medals in the Melbourne
Games in her home country, beat Natalie
Grainger of the USA in the first semi-final.
Grainger, a former world No1, was seeded 14 in the
event after slipping down the rankings following a
troubled two years suffering with a hamstring
injury. The 29-year-old from Washington DC made a
magnificent comeback on the all-glass court at
Ulster Hall, however - first upsetting second seed
Vanessa Atkinson, then local star
Madeline Perry, the No8 seed, en-route to the
last four.
Despite having a game-ball in the second game,
hard-hitting Grainger was unable to make the
breakthrough she hoped for against the
nimble-footed Australian, and eventually went down
9-4, 10-8, 9-6 in 45 minutes.
"We had a very close second game – which I think
was very much make or break for her," said the
younger Grinham sister. "I was happy to take that
game.
"It was a great crowd – who obviously appreciate
their squash," added the fourth seed.
Grainger admitted that the week had gone well for
her: "Overall, I'm very happy – but I came here
to win, so I'm disappointed not to – but at least
I feel I'm playing to world top four standard
now.
"Mentally I feel a lot stronger," concluded the US
star who now heads to South Africa, the country
where she was raised, before returning to the US
Tour in January. "I gave everything I had today."
Nicol David faced the older Grinham sister
Rachael Grinham in the other semi-final – and,
in a close-fought battle unrepresented by the
scoreline, beat her long-time rival 9-7, 9-1, 9-1
in 46 minutes.
Grinham senior, the world No3 who was hoping to
end her run of ten defeats to David since July
last year, led 4-3 and 7-3 in the long first
game. But the pint-sized Malaysian ran her
opponent into the ground to claim her anticipated
victory over the third seed.
"The rallies were so long in the first game – I
just had to break her rhythm," said David, 23,
from Penang . "But it was only by the third game,
when Rachael made a few errors, that I began to
feel confident that I would win.
"I
feel I've been playing better with each match here
in Belfast . Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to
play as well – if not better!
"I'm expecting a long game," concluded the
title-holder.
|
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The Picture that says it all
A victorious Nicol David hugs Natalie
Grinham after their marathon final
David and N Grinham on court in the 95 minute final
Nicol David Secures her Finals berth with
a win over Racheal Grinham in the Semis
Natalie Grinham secures her Final position against Nicol David with a semi
final win over Natalie Grainger
Nicol David has a straight games win over
Omneya Abdel Kawy in the Quarters
Natalie Grinham goes through to Semis
following her win over Tania Bailey
in the Q/Finals |
|
Draw |
Round ONE
22 Nov
BBC |
Round TWO
23 Nov
UH |
Quarters
24 Nov
UH |
Semis
25 Nov
UH |
Final
26 Nov
UH |
[1] Nicol David (Mas)
9-4, 9-5, 9-4 (49m)
[Q] Lauren Briggs (ENG) |
Nicol David
9-2, 9-1, 9-0 (25m)
Samantha Teran |
Nicol David
10-8,
9-2, 9-4 (36m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
Nicol David
9-7, 9-1, 9-1 (46m)
Rachael Grinham |
Nicol David
1-9, 9-7, 3-9, 9-5, 9-2 (95m)Natalie Grinham |
[12] Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9-5, 9-5, 9-1 (46m)
[Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) |
[5] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
10-8, 9-2, 9-5 (40m)
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
|
Vicky Botwright
10-9, 10-9, 9-7 (54m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
[9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
9-4, 9-7, 9-5 (29m)
[Q] Amelia Pittock (AUS) |
[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
9-1, 9-5, 8-10, 10-8 (53m)
Raneem El Weleily (Egy)
|
Rachael Grinham
9-2, 9-4, 9-3 (26m)
Rebecca Chiu |
Rachael Grinham
9-2,
9-3, 9-6 (34m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn |
[15] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg)
C6 13.00*
Laura Mylotte (Irl)
|
[6] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
9-7, 9-4, 10-9 (63m)
[Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) |
Nicolette Fernandes
9-0, 9-3, 9-2 (42m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn |
[11] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Eng)
9-0, 9-2, 9-1 (22m)
[Q] Tenille Swartz (RSA) |
[Q] Rebecca Botwright (ENG)
9-1, 10-8, 9-5
(24m)
[10] Alison Waters (Eng) |
Alison Waters
6-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-0 (48m)
Tania Bailey |
Tania Bailey
9-5,
10-8, 9-5 (56m)
Natalie Grinham |
Natalie Grinham
9-4, 10-8, 9-6 (45m)
Natalie Grainger |
Sharon Wee (Mas)
9-5, 9-1, 9-3 (28m)
[7] Tania Bailey (Eng) |
[Q] Tegwen Malik (WAL)
9-4, 9-6, 9-5
(45m)
[13] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) |
Shelley Kitchen
9-4, 9-1, 9-4 (30m)
Natalie Grinham |
[Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
9-3, 9-3 ret.
[4] Natalie Grinham (Aus) |
Kasey Brown (Aus)
9-1, 5-9, 10-9, 9-7 (83m)
[16] Annelize Naude (Ned) |
Kasey Brown
9-7, 9-0, 5-9, 9-2 (51m)
Madeline Perry |
Madeline Perry
9-2,
9-4, 9-5 (32m)
Natalie Grainger |
Aisling Blake (Irl)
9-3, 9-5, 9-0 (40m)
[8] Madeline Perry (Irl) |
Pamela Nimmo (Sco)
C6 15.00
[14] Natalie Grainger (Usa) |
Natalie Grainger
6-9, 2-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-7 (52m)
Vanessa Atkinson |
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
9-2, 9-4, 9-0 (26m)
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) |
QUALIFYING
|
BBC = Belfast Boat
Club UH = Ulster Hall.
Matches are follow-on after first match (*), times approximate.
Qualifying finals:
Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt
Runa Reta (CAN) 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 9-6, 9-0 (74m)
Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt
Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-7, 3-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-5 (68m)
Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt
Carolyn Russell (CAN) 9-6, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0 (62m)
Amelia Pittock (AUS) bt
Christina Mak (HKG) 9-3, 9-0, 9-6 (40m)
Samantha Teran (MEX) bt
Tricia Chuah (MAS) 5-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-0 (35m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt
Georgina Stoker (ENG) 9-4, 7-9, 9-1, 9-0 (40m)
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
bt Margriet Huisman (NED) 9-1, 9-0, 9-6 (29m)
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt
Latasha Khan (USA) 9-3, 3-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-1 (49m)
1st qualifying round:
Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt
Elise Ng (HKG) 9-2, 10-8, 9-2 (40m)
Runa Reta (CAN) bt
Jenna Gates (ENG) 9-7, 9-5, 9-6 (42m)
Rebecca Botwright
(ENG) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 9-7, 4-9, 9-1, 9-2 (51m)
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt
Kerri Shields (IRL) 9-0, 9-1, 9-1 (10m)
Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt
Daniela Schumann (GER) 9-4, 9-0, 9-1 (22m)
Carolyn Russell (CAN)
bt Louise Crome (NZL) 9-6, 8-10, 9-5, 9-4 (57m)
Amelia Pittock (AUS)
bt Camille Serme (FRA) 9-4, 9-1, 9-1 (31m)
Christina Mak (HKG) bt
Soraya Renai (FRA) 10-8, 6-9, 9-5, 9-7 (58m)
Samantha Teran (MEX)
bt Charlie de Rycke (BEL) 9-4, 9-7, 9-2 (36m)
Tricia Chuah (MAS) bt
Birgit Coufal (AUT) 9-2, 9-0, 9-1 (18m)
Georgina Stoker (ENG)
bt Orla Noom (NED) 9-6, 9-0, 9-6 (34m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt
Line Hansen (DEN) 10-8, 9-0, 9-6 (30m)
Nicolette Fernandes
(GUY) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 9-7, 9-0, 9-3 (24m)
Margriet Huisman (NED)
bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-6, 4-9, 9-10, 4-5 ret. (46m)
Tenille Swartz (RSA)
bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-7, 5-9, 9-5, 9-6 (52m)
Latasha Khan (USA) bt
Kirsty McPhee (ENG) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2 (28m)
QUALIFYING, 20/21 Nov:
(draw to be made 7 days
prior to event)
1. Lauren Briggs (Eng),
2. Latasha Khan (Usa),
3. Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl),
4. Tegwen Malik (Wal),
5. Rebecca Botwright (Eng),
6. Amelia Pittock (Aus),
7. Tricia Chuah (Mas),
8. Suzie Pierrepont (Eng),
9. Sarah Kippax (Eng),
10. Samantha Teran (Mex),
11. Runa Reta (Can),
12. Nicolette Fernandes (Guy),
13. Louise Crome (Nzl),
14. Orla Noom (Ned),
15. Christina Mak (Hkg),
16. Manuela Manetta (Ita),
17. Line Hansen (Den),
18. Carolyn Russell (Can),
19. Camille Serme (Fra),
20. Jenna Gates (Eng),
21. Georgina Stoker (Eng),
22. Kirsty McPhee (Eng),
23. Elise Ng (Hkg),
24. Lucie Fialova (Cze),
25. Charlie De Rycke (Bel),
26. Lauren Siddall (Eng),
27. Soraya Renai (Fra),
28. Margriet Huisman (Ned),
29. Daniela Schumann (Ger)#,
30. Tenille Swartz (Rsa)#,
31. Kerri Shields (Irl)~,
32. Birgit Coufal (Aut)#
# WSF qualification
~qualification wildcard
RESERVES :
1. Amnah El Trabolsy (Egy), 2. Dagmar Vermeulen (Ned), 3. Susannah
King (Eng) 4. Jenny Wright (Wal), 5. Wilma Kirsten (Ita), 6. Emma Chorley
(Eng), 7. Laura Hill (Eng), 8. Lotte Eriksen (Nor), 9. Charlotte
Delsinne (Fra), 10. Adel Weir (Rsa) |
|
Q/Finals
Local hope Medeline Perry
beats Kasey
Brown in the
second round
British Bid Blown In Belfast
World Open
The British bid for success in
the Women's World Open Championship was
dashed in the first three matches in the
quarter-finals at the Ulster Hall in
Belfast when England's Tania Bailey and
Laura-Jane Lengthorn – and Irish hope
Madeline Perry – were each blown away in
straight games in the biggest ever squash
tournament in Northern Ireland.
Bailey, the British National
champion from Stamford in Lincolnshire , was the
first to fall – beaten 9-5, 10-8, 9-5 in 56
minutes by Australia 's fourth seed Natalie
Grinham.
Grinham, the 28-year-old
Queenslander who won a record three gold medals in
the Commonwealth Games earlier in the year,
raced to an 8-1 lead in the opening game – but
seventh seed Bailey saved three game-balls before
her opponent finally moved one game ahead.
In the second Bailey had her
own game-ball at 8-7, but the Amsterdam-based
Australian came back to claim a 2/0 lead.
Despite leading 4-1 in the
third, Bailey was unable to stop Grinham claiming
victory after her second match-ball.
"I was so focussed on what I
had to do," said the younger Grinham sister. "I
was prepared for five games."
A downcast Bailey admitted
later that it had been a tough match: "But I
thought I played quite well and was disappointed
not to get the second game – there's such a big
difference between one-all and two-love down."
Grinham will face name-sake
Natalie Grainger after the USA number one
ended the Irish dream of home success by beating
eighth seed Madeline Perry.
Grainger, the former world No1
fighting back to form after a lengthy layoff
resulting from a hamstring injury, raced out of
the blocks to build up a 6-0 lead before Banbridge
star Perry registered on the scoreboard.
Despite vociferous support from
a packed partisan crowd, Perry was always on the
back foot and after 32 minutes succumbed to a 9-2,
9-4, 9-5 defeat.
"I'm gutted," said the
seven-times Irish national champion to the media
throng afterwards. "I really thought I could win
– it was a brilliant opportunity for me to get
into a world semi-final.
"But she just played too well
for me. She was absolutely flying. When she's
playing well she's pretty intimidating – and she
was playing well tonight!
"I was really excited about the
match and looking forward to it - perhaps I was
trying too hard.
"To have the opportunity to
play the World Open in your own country is an
experience I'll never forget," concluded the
29-year-old.
Grainger, the 14th
seed, admitted she had been "fired up" for the
match.
"I really had to make sure I
was firing on all cylinders from the word go – and
then maintain that level and speed.
"I was quite looking forward to
playing in front of Madeline's crowd – but I knew
she'd be under pressure, and I did try and use
that to my advantage! My coach told me between
games to make sure that I wasn't being too nice on
court – it's a matter of being competitive," said
the 29-year-old from Washington DC .
Natalie Grinham was joined in
the semi-final line-up by her older sister
Rachael Grinham when the 29-year-old third
seed defeated England 's rising star Laura-Jane
Lengthorn, the No11 seed, 9-2, 9-3, 9-6 in 34
minutes.
In their previous meeting,
Grinham had faced a first round exit in the
British Open in Nottingham where the
23-year-old from Preston held match-ball against
the experienced former world number one. But
Grinham prevailed to reach the final.
"Laura's playing really well at
the moment – so for me to have a win like that
makes me feel very happy," said Grinham senior,
the Cairo-based world No3.
"Now that I've reached my
seeding, I can go on court tomorrow relaxed – with
nothing to lose."
Grinham senior will face world
No1 Nicol David, the defending champion
from Malaysia who defeated Egypt's Omneya Abdel
Kawy 10-8, 9-2, 9-4 in 36 minutes.
"Nicol's the one to beat, so
that's really an aim of mine. I want to beat
Nicol David," said a defiant Rachael Grinham.
Favourite David was made to
work hard in the first game against her Egyptian
opponent, a regular rival in their junior days.
The Malaysian forged a 5-1 lead, but Kawy fought
back to reach game-ball in a single hand before
David finally secured her 1/0 lead.
"She gets into the game
straight away – with me, especially," explained
the 23-year-old from Penang afterwards. "I knew I
had to get that first game – and after I won it,
she didn't get the momentum again.
"My focus was there in the
second and third games – and I finished it off."
When asked how she felt about
her game at the moment, David replied:
"Everything is geared up for this tournament.
"It'll be a big match tomorrow
with Rachael - we've played each other so many
times.
"I'll have to get my game on
top notch – and keep her out of her comfort zone."
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [3]
Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[14] Natalie Grainger (USA) v
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS)
DAY 2
Vanessa Atkinson
squandered
a two-game lead to crash out of
the second round to the USA's
Natalie Grainger
Grainger Grabs Quarter-Final Place In World Open At
Belfast's Ulster Hall
Former world champion Vanessa Atkinson
squandered a two-game lead to crash out of the
second round of the Women's World Open
Championship to the USA's Natalie Grainger
on the first day of action on the all-glass court at
the world-renowned Ulster Hall in Belfast.
In
the final match of the day in the biggest squash
event ever to be staged in Northern Ireland, Egypt's
ninth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy upset fifth seed
Vicky Botwright, from England, to reach the
last eight for the second year in a row.
Atkinson, the world No2 from the Netherlands, seemed
to have her second round match under control when
she eased to a 2/0 lead against Grainger, the No14
seed.
But
after feeling "really stressed out in the first game
and a little tentative in the second", the
29-year-old from Washington DC stormed back to win
the match
6-9, 2-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-7 in 52 minutes – fighting
back from 4-7 down in the decider.
"I got a good
talking to between games," was Grainger's reply when
asked what happened after the second game.
Grainger,
runner-up in the event four years ago, credited her
new "great support group", which includes fitness
trainer Augi Maurelli, the head strength and
conditioning coach at Georgetown University
in Washington, and UK-based coach Steve Townsend.
"I haven't had a
coach for about the past three years, but I've been
working hard in all areas over the recent months.
And I'm not injured – at last," added Grainger.
The surprise
quarter-finalist later admitted that "it'll probably
feel like taking on the whole of Ireland" when she
meets local heroine Madeline Perry, the eighth seed
from nearby Banbridge who beat unseeded Australian
Kasey Brown
9-7, 9-0, 5-9, 9-2 in 51 minutes.
"It's a bit of a relief to get to this stage – so I
can start enjoying it a bit more now," said the
29-year-old world No6 who has been the focus of the
media attention in the build-up to the event.
"I
just had a lapse of concentration in the third game
but, even though I didn't know much about Kasey, she
was pretty tough out there – she didn't give up."
Event favourite Nicol David cruised into the
quarter-finals with a 9-2, 9-1, 9-0 win over Mexican
qualifier Samantha Teran.
"It
was nice to get out there on the glass court – and
go all out from the start," sad the defending
champion and world No1 from Malaysia. "I had to
make sure I worked the ball – and had to use the
corners well."
David will face surprise opponent Omneya Abdel
Kawy after the Egyptian – a close rival
throughout their junior days – removed Vicky
Botwright 10-9, 10-9, 9-7.
England claimed two quarter-final slots earlier in
the day after commanding victories by Tania
Bailey and Laura-Jane Lengthorn in
today's first session at Ulster Hall.
Bailey, the 27-year-old No7 seed from Stamford in
Lincolnshire, beat her England team-mate Alison
Waters 6-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-0 in 48 minutes -
winning 24 points in a row from one game down and
3-4 behind in the second game!
"She
got in front, volleying and attacking the ball – she
was just hitting all my boasts into the nick. I
just wasn't able to play my game," said Bailey,
recalling the early stage of the encounter.
"But
I got a better length in the second – and by the end
of the third I was so focussed I just wanted to go
straight back on to play the fourth!
"Alison is a tough opponent – and one of the fittest
girls on the circuit - and would have given anyone
out there a hard game today.
"What I've learned more than anything recently is
about the way I can play best – and when I'm doing
this I feel I can beat anyone. I'm feeling as good
as I've ever done," added the British National
champion and one-time world No4.
Bailey will face Australia's fourth seed Natalie
Grinham for a place in the last four. The
28-year-old Queenslander, winner of a record three
gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in
March, brushed aside New Zealand's Shelley
Kitchen 9-4, 9-1, 9-4 in 30 minutes – and then
revealed a Belfast ingredient which had enhanced her
game.
"I
have been working with a fitness coach to improve my
speed," said the Netherlands-based world No4 from
Toowoomba in Queensland. "And I already feel that
I'm playing better than I was in the Commonwealth
Games."
The
man responsible for this speedier Grinham is
Alistair McCaw, based in the Netherlands, raised
in South Africa - but born in the Northern Ireland
capital!
"I
have been working with Alistair for around six
months and I'm enjoying my training more than ever
before," explained Natalie.
Laura-Jane Lengthorn faced unexpected opponent
Nicolette Fernandes after the qualifier – the
sole professional squash player from Guyana - upset
sixth seed Jenny Duncalf in the first round.
But
Fernandes, now based in Harrogate in England, was no
match for Lengthorn on the all-glass court at the
Ulster Hall, as the 23-year-old No11 seed from
Preston in Lancashire swept to a 9-0, 9-3, 9-2
victory in 42 minutes.
The
quickest victory of the session was notched up by
Australian Rachael Grinham, the third seed
and older sister of fourth seed Natalie, who
despatched Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu 9-2, 9-4,
9-3 in just 26 minutes. The result was not the 28th
birthday present that the Asian Games
champion was hoping for!
Day 1
Perry Powers Past First World Open Hurdle
Local heroine Madeline Perry delighted home
fans at the Belfast Boat Club when she
overcame her first round hurdle in the Women's
World Open Championship to earn a place in the
last sixteen of the biggest ever squash event to be
staged in Northern Ireland.
The
eighth seed from Banbridge, who has been the focus
of widespread interest in the event in the region,
beat Irish team-mate Aisling Blake 9-3, 9-5,
9-0 in 40 minutes – and will now play her second
round match on a state-of-the-art four glass-walled
court in the auditorium of the Belfast's
world-renowned Ulster Hall.
"The
first round's always the toughest, but it's good to
get started at last," said the 29-year-old world
No7.
When
asked how distracting the effect of the media focus
on her had been, Perry said: "Actually, I've felt
good all week, but my legs felt a bit heavy in the
knock-up, and in the first two games I was a bit
tense – but by the third, I felt fine.
"I
thought Aisling played really well – though I think
I dealt with it pretty well."
A
significant upset earlier on the court means that
Perry will now play unseeded Australian Kasey
Brown, a 21-year-old from Queensland who battled
to a 9-1, 5-9, 10-9, 9-7 victory in 83 minutes over
16th seed Annelize Naude.
"I've never played Kasey before, but she's had a
good year. It'll be nice to play someone new.
"I'm
really excited about playing at the Ulster Hall – I
can't wait to get out there," concluded the
seven-times Irish champion.
Two
qualifiers claimed second round places in major
upsets on the opening day. Nicolette Fernandes,
the only professional squash player ever to have
come out of Guyana , defeated England 's
sixth seed Jenny Duncalf 9-7, 9-4, 10-9 in 63
minutes.
Later, Mexico 's Samantha Teran – who beat
Fernandes in the Panamerican Championship final in
September – overcame 12th seed Engy
Kheirallah, who became the first Egyptian woman
to reach the British Open semi-finals this year,
9-5, 9-5, 9-1.
"I
have been so excited about playing in the World Open
since sending in my entry some months ago – and as
it's the most important event in the world, I have
been training harder than ever before," said Teran,
the 25-year-old world No26 from Mexico City.
"And
I did something else different too – I arrived in
Europe a week before the tournament, to fully
acclimatise myself to the region. I went to Belgium
to train with Sharon Wee.
"Engy
and I have always had close games, but I have great
belief in myself and want to pay back the great
support I have back in my country from many people,
including my coach and my parents," explained the
Mexican star.
England team-mates Tania Bailey and Alison
Waters will meet in the second round after
straightforward straight games victories
today.
Seventh seed Bailey, the British National champion
from Lincolnshire , brushed aside Malaysian
Sharon Wee 9-5, 9-1, 9-3 in 28 minutes.
Earlier, on the same conventional plaster court at
the Belfast Boat Club, tenth seed Waters,
from London , despatched English qualifier
Rebecca Botwright 9-1, 10-8, 9-5, in 24 minutes.
"It's nice to get a good game to start with," said a
smiling Bailey afterwards. "We can now both look
forward to playing our next match on the all-glass
court at Ulster Hall – it’s the court we all enjoy
playing on," explained the 27-year-old England
number one from Stamford .
"
Sharon 's one of the better unseeded players in the
draw, though I haven't played her for a long time so
I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't afford to
lose my concentration against her – and when I did,
she took full advantage," added Bailey, ranked six
in the world.
Bailey has a 100% record against Waters on the
WISPA World Tour, but lost in five in their last
meeting two months ago in a non-Tour clash.
"I'm
looking forward to it – I know it will be a good
clean game," concluded Bailey.
Local interest in the event was reduced by a third
in the afternoon session when Ireland 's Laura
Mylotte lost out in three games to Hong Kong 's
Rebecca Chiu. The 31-year-old from Galway ,
who recently sustained a cartilage injury, was
playing her first competitive match since the World
Team Championships in September.
"I
really enjoyed that – but she's a different class of
player," said Mylotte after her 9-1, 9-2, 10-9
defeat by the reigning Asian Games champion.
"If
I'd sneaked the third, it might have been a
different story," said Mylotte, who is the middle of
a year off while playing full-time squash.
"I
look forward to getting some serious training in now
– and getting my year off to a second start!"
When
asked how it felt to be playing in the World Open in
her home country, Mylotte said: "It's the first
time since I started playing when I was four that
I've seen an event in our sport get so much
attention here. Let's hope it persuades a few more
young people to come along and play squash."
England Team-Mates Bailey & Waters Set Up World Open
Clash
England team-mates Tania Bailey and Alison
Waters will meet in the second round of the
Women's World Open Championship at the Ulster
Hall in Belfast after
straightforward straight games victories in
today's (Wednesday) first round of the biggest ever
squash event to be staged in Northern Ireland.
Seventh seed Bailey, the British National champion
from Lincolnshire , brushed aside Malaysian Sharon
Wee 9-5, 9-1, 9-3 in 28 minutes. Earlier, on the
same conventional plaster court at the Belfast Boat
Club, tenth seed Waters, from London , despatched
English qualifier Rebecca Botwright 9-1, 10-8,
9-5, in 24 minutes.
"It's
nice to get a good game to start with," said a smiling
Bailey afterwards. "We can now both look forward to
playing our next match on the all-glass court at
Ulster Hall – it’s the court we all enjoy playing on,"
explained the 27-year-old England number one from
Stamford .
"
Sharon 's one of the better unseeded players in the
draw, though I haven't played her for a long time so I
didn't know what to expect. I couldn't afford to lose
my concentration against her – and when I did, she
took full advantage," added Bailey, ranked six in the
world.
Bailey
has a 100% record against Waters on the WISPA World
Tour, but lost in five in their last meeting two
months ago in a non-Tour clash.
"I'm
looking forward to it – I know it will be a good clean
game," concluded Bailey.
Local
interest in the event was reduced by a third in the
afternoon session when Ireland 's Laura Mylotte
lost out in three games to Hong Kong 's Rebecca
Chiu. The 31-year-old from Galway , who recently
sustained a cartilage injury, was playing her first
competitive match since the World Team Championships
in September.
"I
really enjoyed that – but she's a different class of
player," said Mylotte after her 9-1, 9-2, 10-9 defeat
by the reigning Asian Games champion.
"If
I'd sneaked the third, it might have been a different
story," said Mylotte, who is the middle of a year off
while playing full-time squash.
"I
look forward to getting some serious training in now –
and getting my year off to a second start!"
When
asked how it felt to be playing in the World Open in
her home country, Mylotte said: "It's the first time
since I started playing when I was four that I've seen
an event in our sport get so much attention here.
Let's hope it persuades a few more young people to
come along and play squash."
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Briggs & Botwright Boost British Hopes In Belfast World
Open
Lauren Briggs
and Rebecca Botwright survived marathon
encounters in the qualifying finals of the Women's
World Open Championship in Belfast to boost
British representation in the biggest ever squash event
to be staged in Northern Ireland.
After
qualifying finals and first round matches tomorrow
(Wednesday) at the Belfast Boat Club, action in
the richest WISPA World Tour event of all-time
moves onto a state-of-the-art four glass-walled court in
the auditorium of the city's world-renowned Ulster
Hall.
Lauren
Briggs, the world No22 from Essex, came back from 2/1
down in games, and five points behind in the fourth game
against Canada's Runa Reta, to forge a 9-5, 7-9,
4-9, 9-6, 9-0 victory in 74 minutes.
"Even
when I was 5-0 down in the fourth game, I was confident
that I could rally it out and win the match," said a
delighted 27-year-old from Chingford, in east London.
"I never counted myself out."
Briggs
is combining a successful life on the WISPA Tour – which
includes two titles to her credit this year – with a
three-days-a-week coaching role at London's prestigious
RAC Club in Pall Mall.
"I
haven't even looked to see who I might get tomorrow –
but I'll take it as it comes, and will do my best to
carry on my winning run," concluded Briggs, now in her
second successive World Open.
Rebecca
Botwright will join her older sister, fifth seed
Vicky Botwright, in the main draw after recovering
from 2/1 down to beat regular training partner Sarah
Kippax 9-7, 3-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-5 in 68 minutes.
"We
always have close matches – we have quite similar games,
I think," said Botwright junior after her lengthy
battle.
"I was
6-2 up in one game, and let her get back to six-all – I
kept asking myself why I had let her back," explained
the 24-year-old from Manchester.
"But
it's a great achievement to get into the main draw of
the World Open for the second time – even though I felt
I could have played better than I did.
"Having
Vicky in my corner between games is really good – she's
always full of confidence for me. It's good to
have someone that's there for you 100%."
South
African Tenille Swartz became the first player
outside the world's top 100 to book a place in the main
draw of the World Open in recent memory when she edged
out Latasha Khan, the seven-times US national
champion, in a major qualifying upset.
The
19-year-old from Parys made her WISPA debut only last
month – and earlier this month, in her second outing,
won the Meersquash Open in the Netherlands, where
she is now based.
After
taking the opening game, Swartz slipped behind as the
experienced Khan – ranked more than a hundred places
higher - moved 2/1 ahead. But the youngster fought
back to claim her historic 9-3, 3-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-1 win
in 49 minutes.
England
Lead Qualifying Bid In Belfast World Open
Players
from 12 nations will fight it out for the eight qualifying
places in the main draw of the Women's World Open
Squash Championship in Belfast – with England
leading the race with four contenders after the first qualifying round at the Belfast Boat
Club.
The
world's most prestigious squash event – and the biggest
ever to be staged in Northern Ireland – is being held in
Belfast this week, with action from the last sixteen
onwards staged on a state-of-the-art four glass-walled
court in the auditorium of the city's world-renowned
Ulster Hall.
Kerri
Shields,
Northern Ireland 's sole representative in the qualifying
event, crashed out to England 's Sarah Kippax in
the afternoon session. Shields, runner-up in the Miss
Northern Ireland competition in 2001, hails from Banbridge
– home of the event's biggest local star, Madeline
Perry, the world No7.
"It's the
first time I've ever played at this level – Sarah made
only two errors throughout the game, and I made loads,"
said 24-year-old Shields after her 9-0, 9-1, 9-1 defeat.
A civil
engineering graduate, Shields is now based in London –
where she has rediscovered her love for the game. "Now
that I have settled into my new job, and discovered that
there are so many people to play in London , I have
decided to take my squash a bit more seriously.
"It was
disappointing to lose today, but I now know what I need to
do to improve, and I'm planning to play a few more events
in the future," said Shields, who fondly remembers her
junior squash days in Banbridge where she played with
Madeline Perry's younger sisters Melissa and Sarah.
"It's
excellent that the biggest squash event in the world is
being staged here in Belfast ," added Shields.
Sarah
Kippax, 23, from Chester, will meet compatriot Rebecca
Botwright in Tuesday's qualifying finals – for a place
in the main draw of the $112,500 event, the richest-ever
event on the women's tour.
Botwright,
the Manchester-based 24-year-old whose older sister
Vicky Botwright is the event's fifth seed, needed 51
minutes to overcome Yorkshire's Lauren Siddall 9-7,
4-9, 9-1, 9-2.
Essex's
Lauren Briggs defeated Hong Kong 's Elise Ng
9-2, 10-8, 9-2 in 40 minutes to earn a place in the
qualifying finals. The 27-year-old from Chingford in east
London, who coaches at the RAC Club in London's Pall Mall,
will now face Runa Reta, the Canadian who ended the
qualifying hopes of England's Jenna Gates in a 9-7,
9-5, 9-6 defeat.
England's
Suzie Pierrepont, the eighth highest-ranked player
in the qualifying draw, hobbled out of the event after
sustaining a recurrence of a heel injury against
Margriet Huisman. The Dutch player claimed a
9-6, 4-9, 9-10, 4-5 victory and will now face Guyana 's
sole competitor Nicolette Fernandes for a place in
the main draw.
South
African teenager Tenille Swartz, who won her maiden
WISPA World Tour event earlier in the month in Hoofddorp
in Holland , made an impressive debut in the World Open by
beating Italy 's Manuela Manetta 9-7, 5-9, 9-5,
9-6. The Netherlands-based 19-year-old from Parys will
now face the experienced Latasha Khan, the
seven-times US national champion from Seattle , in the
qualifying finals.
Nicol David
Full Prepared For World Open Defence
Malaysian squash
star Nicol David is "ready for anything" as
she
prepares to meet a qualifier in the opening of her defence of the
title tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Women's World Open
Championship in Belfast.
The world's most
prestigious squash event – and the biggest ever to be staged in
Northern Ireland – is currently underway in Belfast, with action
from the last sixteen onwards staged on a state-of-the-art four
glass-walled court in the auditorium of the city's world-renowned
Ulster Hall, from 23-26 November.
World No1 Nicol
David will defend the title she won for the first time last year
in Hong Kong. The top-seeded 23-year-old from Penang is enjoying
a stunning run of form after notching up her fifth successive
WISPA World Tour title at the Hong Kong Open last
month – and extending her unbeaten run to 22 matches!
"The World Open is
a huge event – one you train hard for more so than any other. But
once you're here, all you want to do is get the first round
underway," said David on the eve of the event.
Strong local
interest in the event has focussed on Madeline Perry,
the world No6 from Banbridge - some 20 miles from Belfast – who is
seeded to reach the quarter-finals.
"Madeline seems to
have been busy – but that comes with the territory," said David, a
mega-star in her home country. "But she's obviously been doing a
great job."
David faces a
qualifier in the first round: "You just have to be ready for
anything – you have to expect tough competition in the first
round."
When reminded that
the World Open, with a world record $112,500 prize-fund, is the
biggest ever women's squash event, David admitted: "It's nice to
be part of the biggest ever WISPA event."
A known 'shopaholic',
David has already checked out the host city, and attended the
Opening Ceremony at the City Hall, hosted by Belfast City
Council: "It's been nice to look around the city – with its
lovely buildings and architecture. You can really feel the
history in the City Hall.
"They say that
Belfast is one of the cities of the world that you just have to
visit once in your lifetime – and it's great to have been able to
experience this through these championships," David concluded.
Vanessa Atkinson, the world champion in 2004, is
seeded to meet David in the final – but has not enjoyed the best
of recent form:
"I'm really
looking forward to this tournament," said the world No2 from the
Netherlands. "I've had a poor run, so my expectations are low,
which is when I usually play my best.
"The draw's tough.
If I win my first match I could play Natalie Grainger (a former
world No1), which is not a draw you'd want in a second round - but
there are no easy draws these days, so you just have to get on
with it," explained Atkinson.
Lengthorn
Launches Late Bid To Turn 'Wolverhampton' Into 'World'
Laura-Jane Lengthorn's
surprise
defeat of England's top-ranked squash player at the
weekend has boosted the 23-year-old from Preston's chances
of success in this week's Women's World Open Championship
in Belfast.
The world's
most prestigious squash event – and the biggest ever to be
staged in Northern Ireland – is being held in Belfast from
20-26 November, with action from the last sixteen onwards
staged on a state-of-the-art four glass-walled court in the
auditorium of the city's world-renowned Ulster Hall.
Lengthorn,
yet to make her senior England debut, defeated Lancashire
county compatriot Vicky Botwright, the world No5 from
Manchester, in the final of the inaugural Wolverhampton
Open - fighting back from 2/1 down to claim her
career-best victory after winning 9-5, 3-9, 4-9, 9-6, 9-4.
"It was the
first time I've ever beaten her," said Lengthorn during her
post-event celebrations. "We've known each other for ages -
and must play each other almost every week - but I've never
even got close to her before!
"I'm so
pleased," added the world No13. "But it was hard too, as
we're such good friends. And she was so gracious in
defeat!"
Amazingly,
immediately following the final, the pair travelled north
together to represent Lancashire in a vital inter-county
clash with Merseyside. "We won 4/1 – and it was nice to be
playing alongside Vicky again!"
Lengthorn's
breakthrough victory in Wolverhampton came after failing to
convert match-balls in recent WISPA World Tour
clashes against both Vanessa Atkinson, the world No2
from the Netherlands, and Rachael Grinham, the world
No3 from Australia.
"So I guess
this was third time lucky – and, after putting in such a
hard summer's training, it was good to finally get the
reward," explained the Lancashire lass.
"The win has
definitely given me extra confidence – the belief that I can
not only match these players, but now beat them."
Lengthorn,
the 11th seed in Belfast, is drawn to face a
qualifier in the opening round.
"Naturally,
I want to do well in the worlds – but the qualifying event
is so strong that I know that, whoever I get, it's going to
be hard. I'm prepared for a tough match.
"I'm looking
forward to going to Belfast for the first time. It's good
to have the World Open so close to home, so that you can
prepare right up to the last minute, without having to worry
about long flights and jet lag, etc," said the England No5.
Lengthorn,
who celebrated a career-high world No11 ranking last month,
has her sights set on greater progress on the international
squash circuit.
"If I could
make the world top ten by the end of the year, that would be
fantastic."
Bailey Back In
Belfast For World Title Bid
More than ten
years after last visiting Belfast in her England Junior
International squash debut as a 16-year-old, British champion
Tania Bailey is preparing to return to the Northern Ireland
capital next week in a bid to win the sport's most coveted prize
in the Women's World Open Championship.
The world's most
prestigious squash event – and the biggest ever to be staged in
Northern Ireland - will be held in Belfast from 20-26 November,
with action from the last sixteen onwards staged on a
state-of-the-art four glass-walled court in the auditorium of the
city's world-renowned Ulster Hall.
"I didn't get the
chance to see much of the city last time I was there – so this
will feel like my first visit," said the 27-year-old world No6
from Stamford in Lincolnshire.
"After travelling
across the globe to places like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Qatar and
Australia over the past few years, it's really good to have a
World Open so close to home – my parents and my brother and his
girlfriend will be coming over to support me, which will be very
special."
Tania Bailey has
enjoyed a distinguished career in squash. Twice the European
Junior champion, she rounded off her glittering junior career by
securing the world title in Brazil in 1997. Since turning pro in
1998, Tania has reached 12 Tour finals and won four titles. In
February this year she clinched her first British National
Championship title – later becoming England No1 for the first
time.
"The World Open is
such a special event – I remember my first in Stuttgart in Germany
in 1998 when, in my first match on an all-glass court in a big
venue, I was thrashed in the second round by Sarah Fitz-Gerald,
who went on the win the title," explained the No7 seed, who has
not yet progressed beyond the last eight in seven appearances in
the event.
"It's the biggest
event to play in – to be 'world champion' is what you dream of."
Bailey is drawn to
face Malaysia's Sharon Wee, ranked 19 in the world, in the
first round.
"I've never lost
to her – but we haven't played each other for ages (in the World
Team Championships in 2002). But if I get through, I'll probably
meet Alison Waters, my England team-mate and a good friend.
She's probably the strongest player in the 9/16 seeding group, so
it would be a tough match.
"It's not only
disappointing for both of us to meet at this stage, but a shame
for our coach Paul Carter – who will have to sit out the match
without speaking to either of us between games!
"But, on the other
hand it would be good to have a tough game early on in the event –
and, if we do meet, at least one of us will get through to the
next round," added Bailey.
The new England
number one is enjoying her best form for a number of years: "I've
trained harder this summer than ever before – and it really paid
off as I felt brilliant at both the World Teams in September and
Hong Kong Open in October. I was unbeaten in Canada and had some
good results, including a win over Vanessa Atkinson (the world
No2) which gave me a confidence boost.
"I feel as good
about my game as I have ever done," said the Hong Kong Open
runner-up.
Bailey led England
to success in the Women's World Team Championship in Canada in
October – bringing the title back home after a six-year absence.
"It wasn't the
first time I've been in a winning England team, but this was extra
special, as I was team number one and captain. Even though we
were favourites, we felt under great pressure – but winning the
title was definitely one of the great moments of my life."
Malaysia's
Nicol David is the player of the moment. Since winning the
Qatar Airways Challenge in India in July, David has amassed a
22-match unbeaten run which features five WISPA titles including
the Hong Kong Open and British Open.
"Nicol is so quick
and makes so few errors, and she just keeps on going – making it
quite a struggle to keep up with her," said Bailey of the world
No1 who is seeded to retain her world title in Belfast.
"But there's more
pressure generally nowadays - all the girls are improving all the
time, they are so much fitter and stronger than they used to be,"
Bailey explained.
However, the
Lincolnshire lass has had more than her fair share of misery this
millennium in what she describes as 'a real rollercoaster
experience' after first sustaining a knee injury in a minor road
accident.
"I was out for
almost three years, starting with the knee injury which required
surgery - then this virus which just wouldn't go away. I kept
thinking I was better, then discovering that I wasn't.
"I spent a fortune
trying to get better, and must have seen about ten different
doctors. I literally tried everything, including acupuncture,
heart scans, and brain scans. I had constant headaches – and used
to go to bed saying to myself 'please let me wake up in the
morning feeling better!'
"I went from being
really fit to being completely unfit. I kept being told to rest –
and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I even moved house to
try and rid myself of the illness," Bailey recalled.
After finally
recovering from what was believed to have been 'Epstein Barr
virus', Bailey is now making the consistent progress that had
eluded her for so long.
"I never want to
go through anything like that again. But it has taught me a lot
about myself – I understand my body better. And I think it's made
me a better person, and a better squash player.
"It's only in the
past year that I've felt I can do what I want to do. It's been a
real rollercoaster experience – after going from 17 to 4 in the
rankings in a year, I then plunged to 19 a year on, and now I'm
back to 6!"
The new relaxed,
confident and happy Bailey has a good few years left in her, she
believes: "I'm looking to play for at least another five years –
I do believe I can get to the top of the rankings and win the big
tournaments.
"Winning the
British Nationals at the beginning of the year was great for me –
and retaining the title next year is a big target for me.
"I want to play in
the next Commonwealth Games – and get a gold medal to go with my
silver and bronze!
"And I'd certainly
love to win the World Open before I retire," concluded the England
squash star.
The Women's World
Open Championship will get underway at the Belfast Boat Club
on Monday 20 November before moving to the city's historic Ulster
Hall from the second round onwards, leading to the final on Sunday
26 November.
Perry Pumped Up For
Belfast Worlds
Ireland's Madeline Perry
overcomes first
hurdle
Madeline Perry
is
eagerly looking forward to playing in front of her home crowd at the
Women's World Open Squash Championship which takes place in
Belfast later this month.
The 29-year-old
world No7 from Banbridge insists she owes a debt of gratitude to a
host of people in Northern Ireland who have helped her along the
way.
The world's most
prestigious squash event – and the biggest ever to be staged in
Northern Ireland - will be held in Belfast from 20-26 November, with
action from the last sixteen onwards staged on a state-of-the-art
four glass-walled court in the auditorium of the Ulster Hall.
It was the late Sid
Moore who got the ball rolling when Madeline took up squash at the
age of 11.
Sadly he's no longer
with us but there will be plenty of familiar faces in the crowd at
the Boat Club and the Ulster Hall which are the venues
for the showpiece.
"People like Derek
Brown and Dorothy Armstrong have always supported me to the hilt,"
she explained. "And I'm also very grateful to my mum and dad Audrey
and Colin as well as the Sports Council for Northern Ireland who
have helped me financially through Lottery Funding. So it will be
good to see them and hopefully I won't let them down."
Madeline is seldom
at home these days as she is based in Halifax in North Yorkshire
when she's not on the pro squash tour. She lives in a modest
terraced house a short distance from the Queen's Sports Club where
she plays and trains.
Unlike Nicol
David, the world number one and top seed in Belfast who is a
megastar back home in Malaysia, Madeline can walk down the streets
of her adopted home unrecognised. She enjoys life in England after
moving there almost a decade ago through sporting necessity.
After 13 years as
Ulster number one, competition - or rather the lack of it - in the
north was the reason for the move to England.
"Obviously there's a
much bigger player base in England and the club squash is of a high
standard with quite a few players in the world top 100 to pit your
wits against. Playing good players, male and female improves your
own game," Madeline explains.
"The people in
Halifax are very friendly and it's really like a 'home from home' as
far as I'm concerned. It’s getting a bit of a reputation for being
a hotbed for squash and there are more and more good players coming
to the area."
She became Ulster
number one at the age of 16 but in those days education came first
and she attended Queen’s University where she graduated with an
Honours Degree in Geography.
With her
qualification behind her, Madeline then dipped her toe in the world
of professional squash and she’s been there ever since, with three
Commonwealth Games appearances under her belt and a best ever global
ranking of six a few months ago.
“It was a question
of giving it a go after I left Queen’s and seeing if it worked out -
and fortunately I’ve made more progress than I had anticipated. I
certainly broke into the top 10 sooner than I had expected,” she
revealed.
Madeline admits the
last few months of the build up to the World Open backyard haven’t
been ideal. On Wednesday (22 November) she will open her campaign
with a first round tie with fellow-Irishwoman Aisling Blake
from Sligo.
“To be honest, it’s
been a bit disjointed and I was ill with salmonella for three weeks
but I am back in shape now and ready for the challenge," continued
the seven-times Irish National champion.
“It’s a shame that
the draw paired Aisling and me together as one Irish player will be
automatically knocked out. She’s also a good friend of mine and
we’ve played together on Irish teams for years."
Madeline is seeded
to reach the quarter finals and if she does so it’s likely she’ll
meet second-ranked Dutchwoman Vanessa Atkinson as the
tournament - which is backed by the NI Events Company, the
Sports Council and Belfast City Council - moves to a
purpose-built glass-backed court at the Ulster Hall from the Boat
Club from the second round onwards.
The championship
will get underway at the Belfast Boat Club on Monday 20
November before moving to the city's historic Ulster Hall from the
second round onwards, leading to the final on Sunday 26 November
Perry Poised For Belfast Success In World Open
MadelinePerry at the World Open
Squash Launch
Madeline Perry, the seven-times Irish champion from
Banbridge, is seeded to reach the quarter-finals in next month's
Women's World Open Squash Championship in Belfast.
The world's most prestigious squash event – and the biggest
championship ever to be held in Northern Ireland - will be held in
Belfast from 20-26 November, with action from the last sixteen onwards
staged at the city's world-renowned Ulster Hall.
Boasting the richest prize fund (£61,000) in the 27-year history of
the championship, the 2006 Women's World Open has attracted a
star-studded field which includes the top 24 players in the world,
according to the entry list and seedings announced today by the
Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).
Malaysia's world No1 Nicol David will defend the title she won for the
first time last year in Hong Kong. The top-seeded 23-year-old from
Penang is enjoying a stunning run of form after winning the Cathay
Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Open last week – notching up her
fifth successive WISPA title since July and extending her unbeaten run
to 22 matches!
Perry, who put up a brave fight against David in Hong Kong before
bowing out in the quarter-finals, will be hoping to avoid the
Malaysian when the draw is made in Belfast at the end of the week.
Seeded eight, Perry will be expected to reach the quarter-finals on
the state-of-the-art four glass-walled court which will be erected in
the Ulster Hall auditorium.
The Craigavon-born 29-year-old will be hoping to emulate her
south-of-the-border success in April, when she lifted the Cannon Kirk
Homes Irish Open trophy in Dublin - a triumph which brought to five
the number of international titles Perry has won since joining the
WISPA World Tour in 1998.
Among the top seeds in Belfast will be Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson,
the 2004 World Open champion and a former world No1; Australia's
Rachael Grinham, last year's runner-up and also a former world No1;
and her younger sister Natalie Grinham, winner of a record three gold
medals in March's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Manchester's world No5 Vicky Botwright will lead a strong British
field, including Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey, the British National
champion and runner-up in Hong Kong last week; Yorkshire's Jenny
Duncalf; and London's Alison Waters – all members of the England squad
which won the World Team Championship title in Canada last month.
The 16 seeds are: 1 Nicol David (MAS); 2 Vanessa Atkinson (NED);3
Rachael Grinham (AUS); 4 Natalie Grinham (AUS); 5 Vicky Botwright
(ENG); 6 Jenny Duncalf (ENG); 7 Tania Bailey (ENG); 8 Madeline Perry (IRL);
9 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY); 10 Alison Waters (ENG; 11 Laura-Jane
Lengthorn (ENG); 12 Engy Kheirallah (EGY); 13 Shelley Kitchen (NZL);
14 Natalie Grainger (USA); 15 Rebecca Chiu (HKG); 16 Annelize Naude
(NED).
The 2006 Women's World Open Squash Championship will be hosted by
Irish Squash, in conjunction with Ulster Squash and its partners the
Belfast City Council, Sports Council for Northern Ireland and Northern
Ireland Events Company – and follows an agreement reached between
Irish Squash and the World Squash Federation (WSF).
The championship will get underway at the Belfast Boat Club on Monday
20 November before moving to the city's historic Ulster Hall from the
second round onwards, leading to the final on Sunday 26 November
The
2006 Women's World Open
Squash Championship
will be staged in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 20-26
November
following an agreement reached between the World Squash Federation
(WSF) and Irish Squash.
The championship will be hosted by Irish Squash, in conjunction with
Ulster Squash, and its partners the Sports Council for
Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Events Company and
Belfast City Council.
The premier event on the WISPA World Tour will boast the
biggest prize fund in the event's history. After early rounds at the
Belfast Boat Club, the competition will move to the city's
historic Ulster Hall from the last sixteen round onwards. The
total prize fund will be $112,500.
Councillor Wallace Browne, Lord Mayor of Belfast, said:
“Squash officials did visit Belfast before the decision was made and
I know that they were very impressed by our proposed venues, including
the Ulster Hall. It was also significant that they were met by
representatives from all the key stakeholders; they left our City
confident in the knowledge that Belfast was already preparing for the
Championships.”
The event will feature all of the top women players, including the new
world champion Nicol David of Malaysia who will defend the
title she won for the first time in the 2005 championship in Hong
Kong. The final stages of the 2006 event will be played on an
all-glass championship court that will be erected in Belfast’s Ulster
Hall, giving spectators a chance to view matches from every angle.
Mervyn Elder, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Events Company,
said: "I’m delighted that the Events Company has played a role in
bringing the first Women’s World Squash event to Northern Ireland.
Securing this event reinforces our position as a world-class
destination for major events and will give a tremendous boost to our
profile through extensive worldwide television coverage."
Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of the Sports Council for
Northern Ireland, added: “The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is
delighted to be associated with bringing the first Women’s World
Squash event to Northern Ireland. This tournament can only improve
the standard of our competitors with some of the best players in the
world attending. The championships provide us with the chance to
enhance the profile of the sport here in Northern Ireland.”
One local player sure to benefit is Madeline Perry from
Banbridge. The Irish No1 reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 world
championships, beating England's world No7 Jenny Duncalf before
succumbing to Rachael Grinham, the top seed from Australia.
Perry's success led to her celebrating a career-high world No10
ranking this month.
Angus Kirkland of Irish Squash and Derek Brown,
President of Ulster Squash, stated: "The Women’s World Open coming to
Ireland is a tremendous boon for the sport of squash. We are indebted
to our partners for their support and look forward to hosting a
spectacular squash event.”
Christian Leighton, CEO of the WSF, added: "The World Squash
Federation is delighted that Belfast's bid to host the 2006 Women's
World Open Championship has been successful. From the very beginning
of the negotiations in early 2005, we have been impressed with the
city's determination to bring this event to Belfast and its
preparedness. With every continent having at least one athlete in the
world top ten, all eyes will be on Belfast between 20-26 November."
Andrew Shelley, Chief Executive of the Women's International
Squash Players' Association, said: "WISPA is thrilled that the
leading women's event will be held this year Belfast - and with the
biggest ever World Open prize fund. The Belfast City Council support
is a great boost to the Tour and I am sure will result in a feast of
the highest quality competitive squash in the City. November cannot
come soon enough!"
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