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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
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|
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) |
|
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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.
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