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Grinham Wins
Historic
World Open Title
In an historic final of the Madrid
Women's World Open in the Spanish
capital, Rachael Grinham beat Natalie
Grinham in straight games in the first ever
world final between two sisters.
It was
the final day of action on the open-air
all-glass court set in the Jardines del
Cabo Noval, adjacent to the Palacio
Real - in the first sports event ever to
be held alongside Madrid's historic Royal
Palace.
Rachael Grinham, the older of the pair by 14
months, has enjoyed sensational recent form
- her appearance in the Madrid climax being
her fifth WISPA World Tour final in a
row and the 44th of her career. Last month,
the 30-year-old Queenslander netted her
third British Open crown after her
first defeat of Malaysia's world number one
Nicol David for more than two years.
Natalie Grinham, boasting her 25th Tour
final appearance, had earlier admitted that
her record three gold medals at the
Commonwealth Games in her home country
last year had been her 'ultimate goal'. But
with a runner-up finish in both the 2004 and
2006 World Open finals, it was clear
that the 29-year-old second seed was hoping
that it would be 'third time lucky'.
Grinham senior took the opening game for the
loss of only four points - but Natalie came
back to take a 4-1, then 6-3, lead in the
second. However, demonstrating the same form
which has seen her win four of her previous
five finals, Rachael charged back to take
the game, and then the third, to win 9-4,
10-8, 9-2 in 47 minutes and claim her first
World Open title.
"30
years old, and I've finally won my first
world championship!" said Rachael to the
packed and exuberant crowd at the
presentations.
"It's
been an awesome couple of months - I've been
world number one and now I'm world
champion," said the third seed, who has now
increased her WISPA Tour haul to 27 titles.
"I was
having a bit of a spiral downwards and over
the summer put in a lot more training - and
things started to go well," explained the
senior Grinham, who has only lost one match
in 21 since August when she won the
Alexandria Sporting Club Open title in
her adopted home country Egypt.
"Winning the British Open last month
obviously gave me some confidence - and this
will too."
When
asked what her feelings were when she was
behind in the second game, Rachael replied:
"I wasn't thinking I was going to lose the
game, or the match - just that I wanted to
make her work!
"We
know each others games so well, that when we
play each other we're often quite hesitant
when we make shots - trying to counter the
response we're expecting.
"She
made a lot of mistakes tonight that she
wouldn't normally do.
"I
wanted to win quite badly - the fact I was
playing my sister didn't really matter!
"This
was a championship I really wanted to win.
And I am thrilled to have done it at last!"
Asked
if she felt any sympathy for her sister,
Rachael was quick to respond: "No! After
all, she's got three Commonwealth Games
gold medals!"
Natalie Grinham conceded that she was "not
too disappointed to have lost" - then
revealed that she had considered pulling out
of the event at the beginning of the week
after sustaining a wrist injury on the eve
of the tournament.
"It
eased off as the tournament developed - but
I am disappointed that I couldn't play
better tonight. I felt I played much better
last night," said the 29-year-old, now based
in the Netherlands.
"She
played her game and didn't let me play mine.
She's very fast - and when she gets the ball
she does something with it," added Natalie.
"But if I've got to lose to somebody, I'd
rather it be her.
"I
made a few errors - against her your shots
need to be perfect, and mine weren't!
"But
I'm really happy to see Rachael playing well
again - she's the only player on the current
Tour who can trick me."
When
asked how she felt about playing in the
first ever world final between two sisters,
Natalie replied: "It's fantastic. Both of us
being in the final, rather than one of us
winning it, is almost perfect. Perfect would
have been if I'd won it!"
After
receiving her trophy, Rachael thanked the
organisers and wished Madrid 16 well in its
bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Natalie added: "I hope you win the bid - and
I hope Squash will also be in the Games. I
won't be playing then, but I'll certainly
come and watch."
Madrid World Open Attracts Royal Interest
Amongst the distinguished guests attending the
semi-finals of the Madrid Women's World
Open Squash Championship in the Spanish capital
was HRH Infanta Pilar de Borbon, sister of
the King of Spain, HM Juan Carlos.
It was the second day of action on the open-air
all-glass court set in the Jardines del Cabo
Noval, adjacent to the Palacio Real - in
the first sports event ever to be held alongside
Madrid's historic Royal Palace.
Together with Her Royal Highness, watching the
historic action which produced the first ever World
Open final between two sisters, were three IOC
Members - HRH Prince Imran, President of the
Olympic Council of Malaysia and Patron of the World
Squash Federation (WSF); Juan Antonio Samaranch
Jnr, son of the IOC President, Juan
Antonio Samaranch; and Kai Holm,
President of the Danish National Olympic Committee.
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Results
.
Draw
.
Qualifying
Reports
.
Qualifying
.
First Round
.
Second Round
.
Quarter Finals
.
Semi Finals
.
Final
.
Previews
.
Event History
.
2006 Event Pages
Madrid World Open Attracts Royal Interest
Bailey's World Bid Ends In Madrid
Madrid Mayor Welcomes Women's World Open To Unique
Royal Setting
Duncalf & Bailey Through To World Open Quarters In
Madrid
Madrid 16 Welcomes World's Top Women To The Spanish
Capital
Rachael
(background)
beats sister Natalie to win her first World title
Grinham sisters make it through to the World Open final
(Rachael above
Natalie below)
Tania Bailey beats Vanessa Atkinson to reach her first World Open semi-final
Shelley Kitchen beats reigning world champion and world no 1 Nicol David 3-2
Reigning champion, Nicol David, has a tough time in the first game against
Isabelle Stoehr but in the end comes through easily 3-0 |
Broadband users, click on pictures to enlarge, hit backspace to return
IOC
members (L to R) HRH Prince Imran, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jnr, and Kai Holm,
flanked by
Madrid
16 CEO Mercedes Coghen (far left) and WSF Emeritus President Susie Simcock
(far right).
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HRH Infanta Pilar de Borbon with HRH Prince Imran
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WSF President Jahangir Khan with Kai Holm
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Draw
Women's World Open
|
Round ONE
23 Nov
Palacio Royal |
Round TWO
24 Nov
Palacio Royal |
Quarters
25 Nov
Palacio Royal |
Semis
26 Nov
Palacio Royal |
Final
27 Nov
Palacio
Royal |
[1] Nicol David (Mas)
9/7, 9/3, 9/0 (30m)
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) |
Nicol David
9-0, 9-1, 2-9, 3-9, 9-6 (69m)
Shelley Kitchen |
Shelley Kitchen
9-2, 9-1,
9-0 (23m)
Natalie Grainger |
Natalie Grainger
5-9,
9-6, 9-6, 9-3 (45m)
Rachael Grinham |
Rachael Grinham
9-4, 10-8, 9-2 (47m)
Natalie Grinham
|
[10] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl)
9/2, 9/4, 9/2 (35m)
[Q] Lauren Briggs (Eng) |
[5] Natalie Grainger (Usa)
9/6, 9/0, 9/3 (36m)
Samantha Teran (Mex) |
Natalie Grainger
9-2, 9-0, 9-0 (26m)
Engy Kheirallah |
[13] Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/3, 9/4, 9/3 (34m)
[Q] Runa Reta (Can) |
[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
9/3, 10/8, 9/5 (34m)
[Q] Louise Crome (Nzl) |
Rachael Grinham
4-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-5 (71m)
Alison Waters |
Rachael Grinham
9-3, 9-2,
9-1 (29m)
Jenny Duncalf |
[12] Alison Waters (Eng)
9/0, 9/3, 9/3 (28m)
[Q] Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) |
[6] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
9/2, 9/5, 9/2 (26m)
Sharon Wee (Mas) |
Vicky Botwright
9-4, 9-6, 5-3 ret. (48m)
Jenny Duncalf |
[9] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
6/9, 9/3, 9/1, 9/0 (56m)
Latasha Khan (Usa) |
[Q] Aisling Blake (Irl)
9/2, 9/6, 9/2 (55m)
[15] Kasey Brown (Aus) |
Kasey Brown
9-5, 9-0,
9-0 (35m)
Vanessa Atkinson |
Vanessa Atkinson
20.009-0,
10-9, 7-9, 9-4 (49m)
Tania Bailey |
Tania Bailey
9-2,
9-5, 9-7 (41m)
Natalie Grinham
|
Alicia Alvarez Riaza (Esp)
9/0, 9/0, 9/1 (17m)
[8] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) |
[Q] Manuela Manetta
9/4, 9/3, 9/7 (45m)
[11] Laura L.-Massaro (Eng) |
Laura L.-Massaro
8-10,
9-5, 10-9, 9-3 (75m)
Tania Bailey |
Jalyn Hawkes (Nzl)
9/4, 9/1, 6/9, 10/9 (69m)
[4] Tania Bailey (Eng) |
Raneem El Weleily (Egy)
9/3, 9/4, 7/9, 5/9, 9/3 (64m)
[16] Annelize Naude (Ned) |
Annelize Naude
4-9,
10-8, 9-5, 9-4 (59m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
Omneya Abdel Kawy
20.454-9,
9-2, 9-0, 9-4 (44m)
Natalie Grinham |
[Q] Orla Noom (Ned)
9/4, 9/2, 9/3 (27m)
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) |
[Q] Line Hansen (Den)
9/5, 9/6, 9/2 (47m)
[14] Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) |
Rebecca Chiu
9-5, 9-5,
9-4 (40m)Natalie Grinham |
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
9/3, 9/6, 9/5 (43m)
[2] Natalie Grinham Aus) |
QUALIFYING
|
Qualifying finals line-up:
Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt Tricia Chuah
(MAS) 9-1, 9-6, 9-6 (34m)
Orla Noom (NED) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG)
9-3, 9-6, 4-9, 1-9, 9-3 (61m)
Manuela Manetta (ITA)
bt Laura Mylotte (IRL) 9-4, 9-6, 9-1 (34m)
Louise Crome (NZL) bt Laura Hill (ENG)
9-6, 6-9, 9-6, 3-9, 9-0 (88m)
Runa Reta (CAN) bt Elise Ng (HKG) 0-9,
9-4, 9-4, 9-3 (71m)
Line Hansen (DEN) bt Margriet Huisman
(NED) 9-2, 9-7, 9-3 (56m)
Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Carolyn Russell
(CAN) 9-0, 5-9, 7-9, 9-7, 9-2 (72m)
Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt Carla Khan
(PAK) 7-9, 9-7, 9-3, 9-2 (55m)
1st qualifying round:
Tricia Chuah (Mas) 9/2, 9/2, 9/0 (25m) Laura Alonso Perez (Esp)
Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) 9/0, 9/1, 9/0 (18m) Dagmar Vermeulen (Ned)
Sarah Kippax (Eng) 9/0, 5/9, 9/1, 9/2 (27m) Celia Allamargot (Fra)
Orla Noom (Ned)
9-3, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5 (52m) Georgina Stoker (Eng)
Manuela Manetta (Ita) 6/9, 9/0, 9/2, 9/3 (48m) Lucie Fialova (Cze)
Laura Mylotte (Irl)
9-5, 9-3, 9-3 (21m)
Birgit Coufal (Aut)
Louise Crome (Nzl) 9/2, 9/5, 9/3 (27m) Karina Herrera Zuniga (Mex)
Laura Hill (Eng) 9/1, 9/0, 9/0 (22m) Anna-Carin Forstadius (Swe)
Elise Ng (Hkg) 3/9, 9/6, 9/0, 9/4 (53m) Frania Gillen-Buchert (Sco)
Runa Reta (Can) 9/0, 9/3, 6/9, 9/1 (44m) Camille Serme (Fra)
Margriet Huisman (Ned)9-6,
9-0, 9-0 (28m) Lauren Selby (Eng)
Line Hansen (Den)
9-2, 9-1, 9-0 (23m) Kerri Shields (Irl)
Carolyn Russell (Can) 7/9, 9/1, 9/2, 9/0 (36m) Elisabet Sado (Esp)
Aisling Blake (Irl)
9-0, 9-4, 9-1 (22m)
Xisela Aranda Nunez (Esp)
Carla Khan (Pak)
9-5, 9-3, 9-0 (29m) Soraya Renai (Fra)
Lauren Briggs (Eng)
9-4, 9-2, 9-10, 9-1 (50m) Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) |
Reports
Grinhams In Historic World Open Final
Australians
Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grinham
will meet for the 16th time on the
WISPA World Tour in Saturday's final of the
Madrid Women's World Open Squash Championship.
But the encounter on an all-glass court near the
Royal Palace in the Spanish capital will not
only be the pair's first clash in a major Tour
final, but the first ever World Open final featuring
two sisters.
It was the second
day of action on the open-air all-glass court set in
the Jardines del Cabo Noval, adjacent to the
Palacio Real - in the first sports event ever
to be held alongside Madrid's historic Royal Palace.
In the first
semi-final, second seed Natalie Grinham faced
England's Tania Bailey in the pair's fourth
meeting in the semi-finals of a Tour event this
year. Grinham junior, the three-times
Commonwealth Games gold medallist from Toowoomba
in Queensland, was in devastating form - brushing
aside the fourth seed from Lincolnshire
9-2,
9-5, 9-7 in 41 minutes.
"I was a bit nervous
before going on - not because it was a semi-final,
but because I wasn't so comfortable on the court
yesterday," explained 29-year-old Natalie after
reaching her third world final in four years. "But
once I got on, I was timing the ball better - I play
a bit better when I'm nervous, I focus better.
"I haven't really
thought about what's like to be in my third final -
but it would be nice to win one! Hopefully I'll
play as well in the final as I did tonight."
When asked whether
winning the World Open crown was her ultimate goal,
the Netherlands-based Aussie responded: "I've
already got my ultimate goal - winning three gold
medals in the Commonwealth Games. I don't want to
put too much pressure on myself - I don’t need to
win every single title there is!"
Tania Bailey, who
was struck down by sinusitis on the eve of the event
and had struggled with her breathing throughout the
earlier rounds, conceded that she was not
disappointed to lose: "A week ago, I would have
given anything to be in a world semi-final.
"Natalie played
really well, played the ball really tight - I
couldn't maintain the way I played for the whole
match because of the way she played.
"But I've learned a
lot recently - I used to run around at 100mph all
the time. It makes me realise how valuable all the
work I put in over the summer was," added the
28-year-old England number one from Stamford.
"I feel confident
that I'm close to the top three in the world - even
though I think they are another level ahead. I'm
still learning a lot and know the weaknesses in my
game which I've got to work on.
"Natalie's got a
great chance to win the title - she's probably the
most consistent of the three. But they are all
capable of winning - and it's good for the game that
that is the case!" concluded Bailey.
Later, former world
number one Rachael Grinham took on fifth seed
Natalie Grainger. Third seed Grinham, aged 30
and based in Cairo, was looking for her second major
title in a month after winning the British Open
in September - and Grainger was hoping for her first
win over the Queenslander in 10 clashes since the
World Open in Qatar five years ago.
Grainger, the Pan
American Games champion from Washington DC,
darted to a first game lead - but Grinham took
control of the match thereafter to wrap up a
5-9,
9-6, 9-6, 9-3 victory after 45 minutes.
"It was so
nerve-wracking - it was obviously a great chance for
Natalie and me to be in our first major Tour final
together, and she had already won her semi," said
Rachael, runner-up in 2005, afterwards. "But even
though I've won most of the recent matches against
Natalie (Grainger), she's one of the best players -
especially on that court.
"The match seemed so
fast - I'm not used to games going that fast - I had
to try and relax and slow it down a bit."
When asked her
feelings about playing her sister in the historic
world final, Rachael said: "I'm sure we both want
to win the title - which neither of us has done
before - but, in a sense, the best thing is us both
reaching the final. At least it's going to be one
of us that wins - and whichever of us loses, we
won't be as disappointed as we would be losing to
someone else!
"It's just like it
was in the Commonwealth Games - the excitement was
over once we'd both reached the final!"
Natalie Grinham
agreed that it had been difficult watching the final
stages of her sister's match: "As it was getting
towards the end, I was getting to g really nervous -
just like at the Commonwealth Games, when I had
already won my semi and had to wait for Rachael to
get through hers."
Earlier, immediately
after hugging Rachael as she came off court, Natalie
was on the phone to their parents down under.
"I've just spoken to
Mum and Dad at home," said Natalie later. "Mum was
watching the live scoreboard on a dial-up
connection, and I woke Dad up. He said, 'I thought
that might be why you were ringing'!"
Official website:
http://squash.sportec.com
Bailey's World Bid Ends In Madrid
The brave campaign
of England's Tania Bailey in the Women's
World Open Squash Championship came to an end
in the semi-finals on Friday when she was beaten
in straight games by Australia's No2 seed Natalie
Grinham in Madrid.
Struck down by
sinusitis on the eve of the championship, fourth
seed Bailey struggled with her breathing throughout
the week in the Spanish capital - but still managed
to claim her maiden appearance in the semi-finals of
the sport's premier women's event.
It was the second
day of action on the open-air all-glass court set in
the Jardines del Cabo Noval, adjacent to the
Palacio Real - in the first sports event ever
to be held alongside Madrid's historic Royal Palace.
Among the
distinguished guests attending the semi-finals was
HRH Infanta Pilar de Borbon, sister of the
King of Spain, HM Juan Carlos.
The clash was Bailey
and Grinham's fourth meeting in the semi-finals of a
Tour event this year. Grinham, the three-times
Commonwealth Games gold medallist from
Queensland, was in devastating form - brushing aside
the England number one from Lincolnshire 9-2, 9-5,
9-7 in 41 minutes.
Bailey conceded that
she was not disappointed to lose: "A week ago, I
would have given anything to be in a world
semi-final.
"Natalie played
really well, played the ball really tight - I
couldn't maintain the way I played for the whole
match because of the way she played.
"But I've learned a
lot recently - I used to run around at 100mph all
the time. It makes me realise how valuable all the
work I put in over the summer was," added the
28-year-old from Stamford.
"I feel confident
that I'm close to the top three in the world - even
though I think they are another level ahead. I'm
still learning a lot and know the weaknesses in my
game which I've got to work on.
"Natalie's got a
great chance to win the title - she's probably the
most consistent of the other semi-finalists. But
they are all capable of winning - and it's good for
the game that that is the case!" concluded Bailey.
Bailey Battles
Through To Maiden
World Open Semi-Final
Fighting both her
opponent and sinusitis, England's Tania Bailey
courageously battled through to the last four of the
Women's World Open Squash Championship in the
Spanish capital Madrid to claim her maiden
appearance in the semi-finals of the sport's premier
women's event.
After two rounds
at the city's Club Palestra, action switched to an
open-air all-glass court at the Jardines del Cabo
Noval, adjacent to the Palacio Real. The 2007
World Open Championship is the first sports event
ever to be held alongside Madrid's historic Royal
Palace.
The Lincolnshire
lass continued her incredible run in the event with
a 9-0, 10-9, 7-9, 9-4 defeat of former world
champion Vanessa Atkinson, the No8 seed from
the Netherlands.
Struck down by
sinusitis on the eve of the championship, fourth
seed Bailey struggled with her breathing in both
victories leading to the quarter-finals.
"I couldn't quite
believe it," said the 28-year-old from Stamford
after claiming the first semi-final place of the day
- and the first of her career in the event.
"I felt really
relaxed tonight, whereas yesterday I felt a bit edgy
- and Vanessa wasn't moving as well as normal. I
did feel a bit tired today, but I was desperate to
play well, and I did. Vanessa's won everything
there is to win.
"I've been training
hard through the summer - and if I hadn't, I
probably wouldn't have got through the first two
rounds.
"Two days ago, I
didn't have any hopes of getting this far," conceded
the England number one who now goes on to meet
Australia's No2 seed Natalie Grinham, last year's
runner-up.
There was
disappointment later when Bailey's England team-mate
Jenny Duncalf crashed out of the event, losing 9-3,
9-2, 9-1 to the older Grinham sister Rachael
Grinham.
"She just outplayed
me - I just couldn't get into it," said the said the
24-year-old ninth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire.
"I hit too many
loose shots."
Kitchen Sinks Nicol As World
Champion
Ends Her Reign In Spain
In one of the
biggest upsets in the 28-year history of the event,
Malaysia's world number one and top seed Nicol
David crashed out of the Madrid
Women's World Open Squash Championship when she
was beaten in five games by New Zealand's Shelley
Kitchen in a dramatic second round match in the
sport's biggest-ever women's event at Club
Palestra in the Spanish capital.
Kitchen romped to a
two game lead after just 24 minutes - the two times
world champion only managing to pick up a single
point. But the redoubtable David forced her way
back into the match to draw level.
Order looked as if
it was about to be restored when the 24-year-old
Malaysian superstar - widely expected to reach her
18th successive final on the WISPA
World Tour - took a 5-0 lead in the decider.
However, the 27-year-old from Auckland regained the
upper hand - and, after drawing level to six-all in
three hands, took the final three points in a single
hand to earn a sensational 9-0, 9-1, 2-9, 3-9, 9-6
victory in 69 minutes.
"I can't really
believe it," said the ecstatic Kiwi afterwards.
"It's great to get to the quarter-finals of the
World Open - but to have done it by beating Nicol,
who is such a great competitor and so good on court,
is extra special."
When asked about her
tactics for the match, the tenth seed replied: "I
just wanted to stop her volleying - I wanted to hit
the ball hard and fast, and play my game. She made
a lot of mistakes in the first and second games. At
5-3 in the fifth, I felt she was a bit tired and
that the momentum just shifted slightly.
"She might have been
a little nervous, with all the pressure - but I was
quite relaxed," added Kitchen, a quarter-finalist
for only the second time. "I think I played well.
These courts definitely suit my game - I usually do
well on courts like this."
Nicol David, who
also suffered a shock defeat to the New Zealander in
the bronze medal play-off in last year's
Commonwealth Games, conceded that she was "very
disappointed".
"Shelley's always a
tough opponent and I knew she'd be tough from the
start - she just went for it. My focus was up and
down. At 5-0 in the fifth, she recomposed herself -
but I was still trying to work the ball.
"It just wasn't my
day, really," added the favourite who has now failed
to reach a WISPA Tour quarter-final for the first
time since April 2004 - 36 events ago! "I must now
refocus myself for Qatar and Hong Kong next month."
Kitchen will now
meet Natalie Grainger for a place in the
semi-finals. The fifth seed from the USA, winner of
the Pan American Games gold medal in July,
despatched Egypt's 13th seed Engy
Kheirallah 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 in just 26 minutes.
There was another
upset earlier in the day when ninth seed Jenny
Duncalf beat her England team-mate Vicky
Botwright in 48 minutes after the No6 seed
retired with a back injury with the score standing
at 9-4, 9-6, 5-3.
"I felt a twinge on
my right side when Jenny pushed me forward at the
end of the second game," explained Botwright, the
England No3 from Manchester.
"It was shortly
after the British Open (in September) that I played
a league match when I felt a similar twinge, and
woke up the next morning with the left side of my
body paralysed. Tania Bailey was my saviour -
luckily she was staying with me that night and
helped me get dressed and took me to the EIS in
Manchester. It was two days before I regained
feeling - and some time before I was back to normal.
"I guess I just
haven't been put under that kind of pressure since
the British Open - but I didn't want to risk
anything like that again, so I had to retire. If I
have to lose to anybody like that, I'd rather it was
to an English player!"
Duncalf seemed
surprisingly downbeat following the win which takes
her into her maiden World quarter-final: "It's
never nice to win like that - but I thought I played
well and deserved to win," said the 24-year-old from
Harrogate in Yorkshire.
"I had a game plan
and stuck to it - I didn't make many errors and was
hitting a good length. I'm looking forward to
playing on the glass court - though I hear the
weather forecast suggests that it will be only one
degree! But I'm ecstatic really - it's good to be
in my first world quarter-final!"
One of the bravest
wins of the day was achieved by fourth seed Tania
Bailey in the other all-English last sixteen
clash. Struggling for the second day with a
recurrence of sinusitis, the England number one
fought back from a game down to beat 11th
seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro 8-10, 9-5, 10-9,
9-3 in 75 minutes.
"I can't believe I
managed to get through that," said the 28-year-old
from Lincolnshire who was clearly again having
serious difficulty with her breathing. "I felt I
needed to win the first game - and when I didn't, I
didn't think I could win the match.
"But I felt I then
played thoughtful squash. I was feeling
light-headed and kept having to take deep breaths.
I never went into the match thinking I was going to
win - Laura is such a tough player," added Bailey,
who goes on to meet former world champion Vanessa
Atkinson.
"I look forward to
playing on the glass court - where conditions surely
couldn't be more different from those here. I've
actually beaten Vanessa the last four times I've
played her - but that followed about eight wins in a
row by her. But she's playing a lot better at the
moment."
Atkinson, the eighth
seed from the Netherlands competing in her 11th
World Open, was the first player to reserve a place
in the quarter-finals when she beat Australia's 15th
seed Kasey Brown 9-5, 9-0, 9-0.
"Kasey was moving
well in the first game, but then she began to
struggle and I was getting more confident in my
shots," said the 2004 champion. "I feel my movement
is back to what it was a few years ago - but my
strength is better.
"It's a huge
difference being eighth seed, instead of the ninth
seed I was - and getting through these first two
rounds reasonably comfortably will probably make a
big difference when we get onto the glass court.
"I feel quite
relaxed - and I put that down to Malcolm (Willstrop)
my coach. I used to be tense and a little highly
strung - but he's knocked that out of me. It's the
club atmosphere at Pontefract - it's so relaxed.
And I love training. In fact I actually enjoy
training now, which is a new thing."
Australian sisters
Rachael and Natalie Grinham secured
their places in the last eight with relative ease -
third seed Rachael Grinham fighting back from
a game down to beat England's No12 seed Alison
Waters 4-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-5 in 71 minutes, and
younger sister Natalie, the second seed, knocking
out Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu, the 14th
seed, 9-5, 9-5, 9-4 in 40 minutes.
Tournament action
now moves onto an all-glass court sited adjacent to
the Royal Palace (the Palacio Real) in
Madrid - the first time in the city's history that
any sporting event has been staged by the Spanish
capital's world-famous Palace.
Natalie Grinham will
face Egypt's No7 seed Omneya Abdel Kawy,
while Rachael will take on Jenny Duncalf.
The Queensland
sisters agree that the setting will be quite
different: "We all prefer playing on the glass
court - it'll be much fairer for everybody," said
Natalie. "Tomorrow will be quite different, it'll
be a lot colder. Omneya's very talented with the
racquet and she had a tough match today."
Rachael added: "The
games (on the indoor club courts) take a lot out of
you, both physically and mentally. It makes for
really limited opportunities - you can't really win
at the front of the court.
"It's a lot easier
to go from any court in the world onto a glass
court as they tend to be the same. All I'll need
tomorrow is about 15 minutes to get used to the
court - yet sometimes it can take up to two days
to get used to other courts."
Bailey Hounded By Hawkes
In Madrid World Open
England's fourth seed Tania
Bailey looked close to providing the only upset
on the opening day of main draw action in the
Madrid Women's World Open Squash Championship
when she squandered a 2/0 lead against unseeded
Jaclyn Hawkes to face three game-balls which
would have taken the match into a fifth game decider
at Club Palestra in the Spanish
capital.
It was clear that something was
amiss with the 28-year-old England No1 in the third
game after taking the first two for the loss of just
five points. Bailey, suffering with sinusitis, was
struggling to respond to the Hawkes advance as the
world No24 from New Zealand gained the upper hand in
games three and four.
But the plucky Lincolnshire
lass fought back in the fourth to save game-balls at
6-8, 8-9 and 9-9 before finally winning her second
match-ball - converting it with the luckiest shot of
the match!
"I felt fine in the first two
games, but as soon as I soon as I started to run
around in the third, the infection kicked in and I
just couldn't breathe. My legs and arms felt dead -
you can't think straight when all you're trying to
do is breathe!" said world No4 Bailey.
"I've had sinus problems all my
life - I've had it all, including three operations
and laser treatment, but I still can't shake it
off. I feel fine in everyday life, but you never
know how you're going to feel on court. I feel as
if I'm as good as anyone, but this lets me down.
I'll have to take it easy tonight and hope that I'll
be fine tomorrow."
Bailey was joined in the last
sixteen by all four England team-mates - Vicky
Botwright, the sixth seed; Jenny Duncalf,
the ninth seed; Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, the
11th seed and 12th seed
Alison Waters. Indeed Bailey faces Lancashire's
Lengthorn-Massaro for a place in the quarter-finals
after the 23-year-old from Preston beat Italian
qualifier Manuela Manetta 9-4, 9-3, 9-7.
Botwright and Duncalf will line
up in another all-English second round encounter
after Manchester-based Botwright despatched
Malaysia's Sharon Wee 9-2, 9-5, 9-2 in 26
minutes and Duncalf, from Harrogate in Yorkshire,
recovered from a game down to beat seven times US
champion Latasha Khan 6-9, 9-3, 9-1, 9-0 in
56 minutes.
"I knew it would be tough -
Latasha's a good player and if you give her time on
the ball, she'll cut it away," said the 24-year-old
British National champion. "I felt comfortable
towards the end, but I had to be patient. We'd all
rather play on the all-glass court - so I'm sure
there'll be some gruelling matches here (at Club
Palestra) tomorrow.
"The last time I played Vicky
she beat me in the British Open - but I won the time
before, so I'm sure it'll be a good match."
It only took former World Open
champion Vanessa Atkinson 17 minutes to earn
a place in the second round of the sport's
biggest-ever women's event when she beat Spanish
wild card player Alicia Alvarez Riaza 9-0,
9-0, 9-1.
"Because the courts are so
bouncy, I was able to get a good run-around - which
was ideal for a first round match really," said
Atkinson, the No8 seed from the Netherlands who won
the title in 2004. "But it was amazing that we
finished our match at the same time they finished
the first game on the next court!
"I'm feeling good - my
training's going well and I'm injury-free. And I'm
happy with the way I'm playing. Nowadays, because
of my relationship with James (Willstrop), I'm
spending more time in England, in Yorkshire - which
is great for my game. Whereas in Holland, I have to
plan practice sessions with other players, there are
so many players I can hit with at Pontefract - it
may be girls like Kirsty McPhee or Lauren Siddall,
or guys like Lee Beachill, Saurav Ghosal and of
course James. And the atmosphere at the club is
fantastic."
Alicia Alvarez Riaza, a
21-year-old from Madrid, was making her maiden
appearance in the world championship - and knew she
was not expected to win: "I felt very good - I know
Vanessa is a very good player, and it's very
difficult to play at that level. Technically, she
plays at a very high standard and she's very fit and
physically well-prepared.
"I didn't expect to win, but
playing in my first World Championship was a
fantastic experience. I was determined not to let
the pressure get to me - I wanted to make sure I
enjoyed myself."
Only an hour after being
reunited with the bag which contained her racquets,
squash kit and make-up, fifth seed Natalie
Grainger recorded a 9-6, 9-0, 9-3 win over
Mexican number one Samantha Teran. The bag
had failed to materialise on her arrival at Madrid
airport two days earlier from Luton in England.
"Thanks to Jenny Tranfield,
whose colleague coaches the Managing Director of
Luton Airport, the whole airport was searched today
for my missing bag - and finally they assured me it
was definitely in Madrid! How could it have gone
missing on a direct flight from Luton to Madrid?
"I finally got the bag at about
5.00pm and was here at the club for my match at
six. I'd had to borrow a racquet for my practice
session this morning - so when I got on court for
the match with my own 'Harrow Natalie Grainger'
racquet, it felt a bit heavy - and it took me at
least the first game to get used to it!
"I couldn't find my length in
the first game and made lots of errors. But I think
I can relax now - I've been on edge since I arrived
- but it's done now: Onwards and upwards!"
Nicol David,
the world number one from Malaysia who is seeded to
win her third world title in a row, eased to a 9-7,
9-3, 9-0 win over France's Isabelle Stoehr in
39 minutes.
"I think these courts may be
even faster than the ones at home - but I haven't
played on courts like these for a while," said the
24-year-old defending champion from Penang who is
expected to win her seventh WISPA World Tour
title of the year.
"It took me a game and a half
to get used to the bounce. Isabelle took the ball
well and had a good start. I had to really hang in
there until she started making a few errors and I
then took my chance. Isabelle is a tough player to
play - I'm glad I pulled it off.
"Once I get the timing right, I
can hit the ball hard - but perhaps these courts
make it sound harder than it is. It's great to have
my parents here - and my sister and her boyfriend
arrive later in the week, so it's going to be happy
families!"
Tough Battles Resolve
World
Open Qualifiers In Madrid
Players
from seven nations - two from England and one
from each of Netherlands, Italy, New Zealand,
Canada, Denmark and Ireland - claimed
places in the main draw of the Madrid
Women's World Open Squash Championship after
surviving testing qualifying finals today (Monday)
at Club Palestra in the Spanish
capital.
The
lengthiest battle saw Louise Crome boost New
Zealand interest in the sport's biggest-ever event
by 50% when she outlasted English fire-fighter
Laura Hill 9-6, 6-9, 9-6, 3-9, 9-0.
"I knew
the match would be a long and hard one," said the
delighted 29-year-old from Auckland afterwards.
"But I'm more happy about winning this because Laura
is such a great player, so consistent - she doesn't
make mistakes. I'm just ecstatic about qualifying
for the first time."
It took 72
minutes to resolve the clash between Ireland's world
No39 Aisling Blake and Canadian Carolyn
Russell, ranked just 11 places below. Blake set
off at a blistering pace, winning the opening game
in a whitewash - but the 26-year-old from Sligo soon
found herself 2/1 down going into the fourth game.
Blake regrouped and ultimately pulled off a 9-0,
5-9, 7-9, 9-7, 9-2 win to qualify for the first
time.
England's
Suzie Pierrepont claimed the first qualifying
slot after a stunning upset over Malaysia's
Tricia Chuah, the top-ranked player in the
qualifiers. It was a relieved and delighted
22-year-old from Sussex who came through - exactly a
year after injuring her heel in the first round of
the qualifiers in the 2006 World Open in Belfast,
resulting in a layoff of some ten months!
"I'd never
played Tricia before, but I knew on that court she
would struggle. I spent most of the summer training
in New York with Damon Brown. And I'm now waiting
for my visa to come through so that I can go back
and live there," Pierrepont explained.
"Having
the heel injury last year, and being out of action
for so long, really affects your ranking. I was 30
before I had the accident - and now I'm 45 - which
makes such a difference in terms of qualifying for
events like this. I'm now aiming for the low 20s,
just as I was a year ago.
"But,
having the long layoff has made me more aware of the
work I need to do. I'm still not 100% confident of
my heel - but, I'm not a size zero, so I have to be
careful," added Pierrepont, the lowest-ranked player
to qualify.
At the end
of the day, the former European Junior champion was
joined from the qualifiers by compatriot Lauren
Briggs after the 28-year-old from Essex beat
Pakistan's sole hope Carla Khan 7-9, 9-7,
9-3, 9-2. Briggs, ranked 24 in the world, will face
New Zealand's tenth seed Shelley Kitchen in
the first round, while Pierrepont will take on
compatriot and close friend Alison Waters,
the No12 seed.
Manuela
Manetta
became the first Italian ever to qualify for the
Women's World Open when she beat Ireland's Laura
Mylotte 9-4, 9-6, 9-1.
"I'd never
played her before - but I knew it wasn't going to be
easy. I really prepared myself well, though I was a
bit nervous at the beginning. But once I started to
play well I knew I could relax," said the
24-year-old from Parma.
"I am so
very happy. I thought I played well - I've been
working hard for the past three or four months with
my coach Marcus Berrett in Milan (about an hour away
from where I live) and I'm so glad it has all come
together so well."
Dutch
player Orla Noom, ranked 40 in the world,
celebrated her first success in the qualifiers at
her third attempt after upsetting England's Sarah
Kippax, ranked nine places higher. Kippax
fought back from 2/0 down to level the match, but
Noom - despite winning the Leinster Open in
Dublin only 48 hours before - had enough in reserve
to pull off a notable 9-3, 9-6, 4-9, 1-9, 9-3
victory in 61 minutes.
"When I
got the first match-ball, I felt I should play safe
- and the rally seemed to go on for ages. At 3-8
down, I decided to be more adventurous and got a
wonderful nick - so it was disappointing that I
actually then won the match-ball on a stroke,"
explained the delighted 21-year-old from Hoofddorp.
"One of my
goals this year was to qualify for the Worlds. But
when the Leinster Open came up, I set my sights on
winning that. So when I got here, I just decided to
take it one match at a time - so I'm really happy to
have qualified."
Spaniards Halted, But Uplifted,
In World Open Qualifiers
Local hopes in the
qualifying event of the Madrid Women's
World Open Squash Championship were
extinguished in today's (Sunday) first round at
Club Palestra in Madrid when
three players ranked outside the world's top 200
failed to dislodge their higher-ranked opponents.
But all three were delighted that the sport's
biggest-ever event was being staged in the Spanish
capital.
Barcelona's
Elisabet Sado Garriga, who has represented
Spain in 13 successive European Team
Championships since 1995, thrilled the Madrid
crowd when she took the opening game against
Canada's Carolyn Russell. But the
experienced world No50 from Vancouver regained the
initiative to storm through to a 7-9, 9-1, 9-2,
9-0 win in 36 minutes.
"I felt
comfortable in the first game, but then my lack of
match fitness began to show," said Sado, the
26-year-old five times Spanish national champion
playing in the World Open for only the second time
since 1996. "She has a real hard style to play
against - and she's really fit.
"It's great to
have the World Open in Spain - and it would be
really good if it inspired more people to play
squash," added Sado.
Laura Alonso
Perez,
playing in only her second WISPA tournament since
making her Tour debut last week in London, offered
stiff resistance to Malaysia's Tricia Chuah
- the top seed in the qualifiers - before going
down 9-2, 9-2, 9-0 in 25 minutes.
"It's so important
for squash in Spain to have the World Open here -
not only to make more people aware of the sport in
our country, but also to attract more girls to
play the game," said the 31-year-old from
Tenerife.
"I only started
playing squash five years ago, and have won the
Canary Island championship six times. But Tricia
was just too strong for me today, she's so
consistent and plays such a straight game.
"I am so happy to
be part of WISPA and am so grateful for the
support of the Spanish Federation. This has been
a fantastic experience and I will take it back to
Tenerife with me - and pass it on to the group of
kids who I coach there."
Chuah conceded
that her opponent made her work hard as she was
"better than I expected her to be."
"I felt
uncomfortable to start with as the court was so
warm and the ball so bouncy. But I'm glad to
start the competition with a win," acknowledged
the world No26 from Kuala Lumpur.
The youngest
Spanish hope was Xisela Aranda Nunez, who
extended Ireland's Aisling Blake for 22
minutes before going down 9-0, 9-4, 9-1.
"I am so happy to
be here - I only started playing squash four years
ago after giving up tennis," said the 21-year-old
from Vigo, in north west Spain. "I have been
training hard for the past month with Elisabet
Sado - but playing in this event has been
incredible.
"Having the World
Open in Madrid has been good for people not only
to see the top Spanish players, but also the best
women in the world.
"Even though I
lost today, being part of the event has been
amazing - I will remember this as an unbelievable
experience in my life," added Aranda Nunez.
Orla Noom,
the world No40 from the Netherlands who arrived in
Madrid today direct from winning the Leinster
Open title in Dublin yesterday, felt as if she
was carrying on playing in the same event.
"I must say that
I'm beginning to feel a bit tired now - but I'm
definitely happy to get through," said the
21-year-old from Hoofddorp after beating England's
Georgina Stoker 9-3, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5.
"The last time I
played Georgina, she was injured, so I was
expecting a tough game today. The court was
really bouncy - but, because I'm quite tall, that
suits me."
Four English
players battled through to Monday's qualifying
finals. Exactly a year after injuring her heel in
the first round of the qualifiers in the 2006
World Open in Belfast - and being out of action
for ten months - Sussex's Suzie Pierrepont
had a comfortable 9-0, 9-1, 9-0 first round win
over Dutch player Dagmar Vermeulen in just
18 minutes.
"When you're out
for so long, it not only messes up your fitness,
but it also really ruins your confidence - so it's
great to be back in action here and winning. And
after all that, it would be so good to qualify,"
said the 22-year-old who now lives in Oxfordshire.
Cheshire's
Sarah Kippax beat France's Celia Allamargot
9-0, 5-9, 9-1, 9-2 - but was surprised to drop the
second game: "I played Celia in last week's
London Open, so I knew what to expect. But after
I won the first game easily, she really took me by
surprise in the second - she really played some
good shots. But I got back in control in the
third.
"I've never
qualified for the Worlds before so it would be
really good to do that here," added the
24-year-old world No31.
Derbyshire
fire-fighter Laura Hill took just 22
minutes to beat Sweden's Anna-Carin Forstadius
9-1, 9-0, 9-0. "I'm really enjoying playing the
circuit while also working fulltime. In fact,
I've taken a week off work, and am here in Madrid
with my boyfriend Kevin. I find it really good
doing things like sight-seeing in places like this
- it works for me and takes the pressure off,
helping me to feel fresher when I get on court,"
said Hill.
Madrid Mayor Welcomes Women's World Open To Unique
Royal Setting
At a special
reception to celebrate the staging of the
Women's World Open Squash Championship
adjacent to the Palacio Real in the Spanish
capital Madrid, the city's Mayor,
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, addressed a
distinguished group of guests, proposing that
"this combination of sport and beautiful scenery
will amaze both the spectators and the players".
Guests included
His Royal Highness Prince Imran, President of
the Olympic Council of Malaysia and Patron of the
World Squash Federation (WSF); Jahangir Khan,
President of the WSF; Susie Simcock, Emeritus
President of the WSF; Manuel Cobo, Deputy
Mayor of Madrid; Mercedes Coghen, CEO of
Madrid 16; Rogelio Chantada, President of the
Spanish Squash Federation; and Malaysia's world
number one Nicol David.
After two rounds at
the city's Club Palestra, action has
switched to an open-air all-glass court at the
Jardines del Cabo Noval, adjacent to the Palacio
Real. The 2007 World Open Championship is the first
sports event ever to be held alongside Madrid's
historic Royal Palace.
"This is a unique
location in the City of Madrid because it is
surrounded by the Royal Palace and the Royal
Theatre, as well as amazing views over the Sabatini
Gardens, the "Campo del Moro" Gardens, the
Manzanares River and the Casa de Campo Park," said
Mayor Ruiz-Gallardon.
"The fact that
Madrid is hosting this event proves that all Spanish
institutions support every sport event that is held
in our city. Especially, I want to thank the
backing of HRH Queen Sofia of Spain, who is the
President of the Honour Committee of the tournament.
"The success of this
important championship, as well as the other sport
events that have been held recently in our city -
including the Tennis Master Series and the European
Basketball Championships - represent the best
possible promotion for the Madrid 16 Olympic bid.
"Madrid has a
well-proven experience in the organisation of sport
competitions and it projects the image of a city
committed to sport," concluded the Mayor.
Jahangir Khan, a
former six times winner of the men's World Open
title, presented a special plaque to the Mayor in
appreciation of the city's generous sponsorship of
the 2007 Women's World Open Championship.
Previews
WSF Secure Live
Streaming From Women's World Open
Live webstreaming of
this week's Women's World Open Squash
Championship in Madrid will be available
free to fans worldwide via the World Squash
Federation (WSF) website
www.worldsquash.org
from the quarter-finals on Thursday through to the
final on Saturday.
The 2007 Madrid
Women's World Open - the sport's biggest-ever
women's event - will be staged on an all-glass
adjacent to the Royal Palace (the
Palacio Real) in the Spanish capital, from
25-27 October.
In addition to access
to the live streaming, fans will also be able to
view all the matches later for a further period of
one month.
"The world's top women
players will be in action in Madrid - and, in a
major breakthrough for the championships, can be
seen from quarter-finals onwards by a worldwide
audience via the internet streaming," explained WSF
Chief Executive Christian Leighton.
Fans are encouraged to
log on to the coverage via
www.worldsquash.org,
from Thursday.
Madrid Unveils Women's
World Open Championship
Website
Organisers of the Women's
World Open Squash Championship, the sport's
biggest-ever event which will be staged in
Madrid from 23-27 October, have unveiled the
new event website
http://squash.sportec.com
In addition to history of the event, background
information about the World Squash Federation
(WSF) and ranking details of the players,
the site will also feature information about the
Spanish capital, a virtual magazine, and links to
other official websites of Madrid.
The new site has been developed by specialist
Spanish company Sportec.
"On the dynamic side, we will be constantly
updating news about the championship and the
results," explained Sportec's Rosa Pena.
"There are links to the competition schedule, the
general programme and the entry list by event.
"When the competition begins, we will update all
the matches and the results table. At the end of
competition, we’ll show the final standings with
its medallists," added Pena.
The 2007 Madrid Women's World Open will be
staged adjacent to the Royal Palace (the
Palacio Real) in the Spanish capital,
from 23-27 October, following qualifying at the
city's Pallestra Squash Club from 21-22
October.
Official website:
http://squash.sportec.com
Duncalf & Bailey Through To World Open Quarters In
Madrid
England team-mates
Jenny Duncalf and Tania Bailey battled
through to the quarter-finals of the Women's
World Open Squash Championship in Madrid
after victories over compatriots in the second round
of the sport's biggest-ever women's event in the
Spanish capital.
Duncalf, the ninth
seed from Yorkshire, upset Vicky Botwright in
48 minutes after the No6 seed from Manchester
retired with a back injury with the score standing
at 9-4, 9-6, 5-3.
"I felt a twinge on
my right side when Jenny pushed me forward at the
end of the second game," explained Botwright, the
England No3.
"It was shortly
after the British Open (in September) that I played
a league match when I felt a similar twinge, and
woke up the next morning with the left side of my
body paralysed. Tania Bailey was my saviour -
luckily she was staying with me that night and
helped me get dressed and took me to the EIS in
Manchester. It was two days before I regained
feeling - and some time before I was back to normal.
"I guess I just
haven't been put under that kind of pressure since
the British Open - but I didn't want to risk
anything like that again, so I had to retire. If I
have to lose to anybody like that, I'd rather it was
to an English player!"
Duncalf seemed
surprisingly downbeat following the win which takes
her into her maiden World quarter-final: "It's
never nice to win like that - but I thought I played
well and deserved to win," said the 24-year-old.
"I had a game plan
and stuck to it - I didn't make many errors and was
hitting a good length. I'm looking forward to
playing on the glass court - though I hear the
weather forecast suggests that it will be only one
degree! But I'm ecstatic really - it's good to be
in my first world quarter-final!"
One of the bravest
wins of the day was achieved by fourth seed Tania
Bailey in the other all-English last sixteen
clash. Struggling for the second day with a
recurrence of sinusitis, the England number one from
Lincolnshire fought back from a game down to beat 11th
seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, from Preston,
8-10, 9-5, 10-9, 9-3 in 75 minutes.
"I can't believe I
managed to get through that," said the 28-year-old
from Stamford who was clearly again having serious
difficulty with her breathing. "I felt I needed to
win the first game - and when I didn't, I didn't
think I could win the match.
"But I felt I then
played thoughtful squash. I was feeling
light-headed and kept having to take deep breaths.
I never went into the match thinking I was going to
win - Laura is such a tough player," added Bailey,
who goes on to meet former world champion Vanessa
Atkinson.
"I look forward to
playing on the glass court - where conditions surely
couldn't be more different from those here. I've
actually beaten Vanessa the last four times I've
played her - but that followed about eight wins in a
row by her. But she's playing a lot better at the
moment."
Alison Waters,
the 12th seed from London, put up a brave
fight against Rachael Grinham - taking the first
game against the third seed from Australia before
going down 4-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-5 in 71 minutes.
|
Madrid 16 Welcomes World's Top Women
To
The Spanish Capital
At a
special Opening Ceremony in Madrid, hosted by Madrid 16 in honour
of the staging of the 2007 Women's World Open Squash Championship
in the Spanish capital, CEO Mercedes Coghen welcomed the world's
top players to the city and thanked the World Squash Federation (WSF)
and the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA)
for choosing Madrid to host the sport's biggest event.
"We
wish all the best to squash in its bid to become part of the Olympic
programme - and we urge you to think of
Madrid as the capital city for sport," Ms Coghen told the distinguished
audience.
Angus Kirkland,
the WSF Technical Director addressed the gathering on behalf of the
Federation's celebrated President Jahangir Khan, the former six
times World Champion.
"This event is the most important competition in Women’s Squash. Only the
best 32 from some 21 nations have qualified - and I am convinced they will
delight you all with their skill, athleticism, determination and
friendliness," said
Kirkland for the WSF President.
"I
would like to thank the city of
Madrid for hosting this World Championship. You have shown us your
generosity and vision, your passion for sport and your organisational
capabilities by embracing the event with open arms. Your efforts will
leave us all with unforgettable moments and pictures that we will treasure
forever. In particular, my sincerest gratitude to the Mayor of the City
of Madrid, Mr. Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, to Mr. Miguel de la Villa
at the Sports Department, and to the Community of Madrid's Councillor of
Sport Mr Alberto Lopez-Viego.
"I
am also very grateful to
Madrid 16. We would not be here today without the leadership and drive of
Mercedes Coghen and her team. You have done so much for this event
to become the success it will be. Thank you Mercedes. Thank you Ramona.
Thank you Carmen. Thank you Madrid 16.
"In
a final round of thanks, I would like to acknowledge the Real Federacion
Espanola de Squash for accepting and participating in the organisation of
this event. I know this marks a historic moment in Spanish Squash and I
trust our Federation will seize on the development opportunity that has
been presented to them.
"I
would like to wish
Madrid best of luck in its initiative to bring the Olympic Games to the
city in 2016. Squash is trying to achieve inclusion in the sports
programme and the next opportunity is also in 2016. I sincerely hope that
our collective dreams and efforts come to fruition in Copenhagen in 2009."
Malaysia's title-holder Nicol David addressed the gathering on
behalf of the players: "When we first heard that this year's World Open
was going to be in Madrid, we were all so pleased to be coming to this
great city. It's going to be a spectacular setting for the final stages,
on the all-glass court by the Royal Palace.
"Hopefully squash and
Madrid 16 will both fulfil our dreams for 2016 - and that I will still be
playing in order to compete in the sport's first appearance in the Olympic
Games!"
Rogelio Chantada,
President of the Spanish Squash Federation, added his thanks to the
assembled crowd: "We thank the WSF and WISPA - but particularly
Madrid 16, without whose help the city would not have been able to stage
this event."
In
accepting the WSF flag from Angus Kirkland, Madrid City Council's General
Director of Sport Miguel de la Villa said: "It is a pleasure to
have the world championships for squash in our city - the best of luck to
you all, and we hope to see you again in 2016 - here in
Madrid!"
|
|
|
DATE |
LOCATION |
WINNER |
RUNNER-UP |
FINAL SCORE |
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 2006
|
Belfast,
Ireland |
Nicol David
(MAS) |
Natalie
Grinham (AUS) |
1-9, 9-7,
3-9, 9-5, 9-2 (95m) |
Dec
2005 |
Hong Kong
|
Nicol David
(MAS) |
Rachael
Grinham (AUS) |
8-10, 9-2,
9-6, 9-7 (53m) |
Dec 2004 |
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia |
Vanessa
Atkinson (NED) |
Natalie
Grinham (AUS) |
9-1, 9-1, 9-5
(33m) |
Dec 2003 |
Hong Kong
|
Carol Owens (NZL) |
Cassie
Jackman (ENG) |
3-9, 9-2,
9-7, 9-3 (53m) |
Nov 2002 |
Doha, Qatar
|
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
Natalie
Grainger (ENG) |
10-8, 9-3,
7-9, 9-7 (86m) |
Oct 2001 |
Melbourne,
Australia |
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
Leilani Joyce
(NZL) |
9-0, 9-3, 9-2
(44m) |
Nov 2000 |
Edinburgh,
Scotland |
Carol Owens
(AUS) |
Leilani Joyce
(NZL) |
7-9, 3-9,
10-8, 9-6, 9-1 |
Oct 1999 |
Seattle, USA
|
Cassie
Jackman (ENG) |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
9-6, 9-7,
9-7 |
Nov 1998
|
Stuttgart,
Germany |
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
10-8, 9-7,
2-9, 3-9, 10-9 (82m) |
Oct 1997 |
Sydney,
Australia |
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
9-5, 5-9,
6-9, 9-2, 9-3 |
Oct 1996 |
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia |
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
Cassie
Jackman (ENG) |
9-0, 9-3,
9-4 |
Jul 1995 |
Hong Kong
|
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
Sarah
Fitz-Gerald (AUS) |
8-10, 9-2,
9-6, 9-3 |
Oct 1994 |
Guernsey,
England |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
Cassie
Jackman (ENG) |
9-1, 9-0,
9-6 |
Sep 1993 |
Johannesburg,
South Africa |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
Liz Irving
(AUS) |
9-2, 9-2,
9-1 |
Oct 1992 |
Vancouver,
Canada |
Susan Devoy (NZL) |
Michelle
Martin (AUS) |
9-4, 9-6,
9-4 |
Oct 1990 |
Sydney,
Australia |
Susan Devoy (NZL) |
Martine le
Moignan (ENG) |
9-4, 9-4,
9-4 |
Oct 1989 |
Warmond,
Netherlands |
Martine le
Moignan (ENG) |
Susan Devoy (NZL) |
4-9, 9-4,
10-8, 10-8 |
Oct 1987 |
Auckland, New
Zealand |
Susan Devoy (NZL) |
Lisa Opie
(ENG) |
9-3, 10-8,
9-2 |
Oct 1985 |
Dublin,
Ireland |
Susan Devoy (NZL) |
Lisa Opie
(ENG) |
9-4, 9-5,
10-8 |
Oct 1983 |
Perth,
Australia |
Vicki
Cardwell (AUS) |
Rhonda Thorne
(AUS) |
9-1, 9-3,
9-4 |
Oct 1981 |
Toronto,
Canada |
Rhonda Thorne
(AUS) |
Vicki
Cardwell (AUS) |
8-10, 9-4,
9-5, 7-9, 9-7 (118m) |
Oct 1979 |
Sheffield,
England |
Heather McKay
(AUS) |
Sue Cogswell
(ENG) |
6-9, 9-3,
9-1, 9-4 |
Australia
1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2002 2004
2006
Austria 1998 2002 2004 2006
Belgium 1989 1998 2004
Brazil 1992 1994 1996 2000
Canada 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992
1994 1996 1888 2000 2002 2004 2006
Cayman Islands 1992
Colombia 1998
Denmark 1989 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Egypt 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
England * 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Finland 1985 1989 1990 1992 1994 1996
France 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
2002 2004 2006
Germany (a) 1981 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Great Britain* 1979
Hong Kong 1985 1990 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
2006
India 2002
Ireland 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Israel 1994
Italy 1996 2000
Japan 1987 1992 1994 1996 2000 2002 2004 2006
Kenya 1981
Malaysia 1990 1992 1994 1996 2000 2002 2004
2006
Netherlands 1981 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
New Zealand 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Nigeria 1981 1998
Norway 1987
Papua New Guinea 1990
Scotland * 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Singapore 1990 1992 1994
South Africa 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
2006
Spain 1989 1990 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2006
Sweden 1979 1981 1983 1985 1989 1990 1992 1998
Switzerland 1990 1994 1998 2000 2004
USA 1979 1981 1983 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Wales * 1981 1983 1985 1987 1994 2000
Zimbabwe 1981 1985
* In 1979 Great Britain comprised England, Wales and Scotland combined
(a) Was West Germany until 1990
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