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Weymuller US Open 2004
14-17 October, New York
, USA, $30k 

17-Oct, Final:

[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [
4] Linda Elriani (Eng)
      6/9, 9/4, 9/6, 9/4  (50m)

Grainger Claims US Open
Mark Devoy reports from Heights Casino


The crowd at the Heights Casino in New York were not disappointed tonight, celebrating a home victory as the USA's Natalie Grainger continued her comeback to the WISPA tour in impressive style with a four game victory over Linda Elriani.

The first game was tight with both players attacking but making few errors. Elriani took the early lead, but Grainger, who started slowly, levelled at 6-all only to succumb 9-6.

Elriani took a 4-0 lead in the second game, but then a turn around saw Grainger going from 0/4 to 9/4, losing just one serve as she levelled the match.

The next two games were closely contested but the American's punishing counter drops took their toll on Elriani, and a very happy Grainger took her first US Open title in 50 minutes.

A disappointed Elriani said after the match: "It's simple - I didn't stick to the plan I had thought through before the match, which I knew would work; burying her deep, playing it very wide, varying the pace and not going short too soon."

A jubilant Grainger summed up her feelings on winning her country's prized title for the first time: "I have finally got my name on the board."

After an eight-month layoff this was Grainger's second successive victory on the WISPA circuit, and was her first final victory over Elriani in five attempts.
 

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  • 2003 Event



Elriani & Grainger


Weymuller US Open 2004
14-17 Oct, New York, $30k  
1st Round
Thu 14th
Quarters
Fri 15th
Semis
Sat 16th
Final
Sun 17th
[1] Cassie Jackman (Eng)
9/7, 9/4, 9/2
Stephanie Brind (Eng)
Cassie Jackman
9/4, 9/5, 9/6 (35m)
Nicol David
Cassie Jackman

5/9, 9/4, 9/3, 6/9, 9/0 (57m)

Natalie Grainger
Natalie Grainger


 6/9, 9/4, 9/6, 9/4  (50m)

Linda Elriani
[6] Nicol David (Mas)
9/1, 9/6, 9/3
[Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa)
9/3, 9/6, 9/4
[Q] Amelia Pittock (Aus)
Natalie Grainger
7/9, 9/4, 9/0, 4/9, 9/3 (65m)
Vicky Botwright
[8] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
10/9, 5/9, 9/6, 6/9, 9/1
[Q] Alison Waters (Eng)
Shelley Kitchen (Nzl)
3/9, 9/4, 10/8, 9/3
[7] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
Jenny Duncalf
9/1, 9/7, 9/1 (32m)
Linda Elriani
Linda Elriani

9/7, 9/6, 9/6 (55m)

Vanessa Atkinson

Latasha Khan (Usa)
9/1, 9/6, 9/0
[4] Linda Elriani (Eng)
Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
9/3, 9/3, 9/4
[5] Fiona Geaves (Eng)
Isabelle Stoehr
10/8, 9/1, 9/1 (28m)
Vanessa Atkinson
[Q] Tania Bailey (Eng)
9/6, 10/9, 3/9, 9/0
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)


Qualifying Finals:
Tania Bailey (Eng) bt Runa Reta (Can)  9-1, 9-3, 9-2
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Meredeth Quick (Usa)  9-2, 9-6, 9-3
Amelia Pittock (Aus) bt Karen Kronemeyer (Ned)  10-8, 9-3, 9-3
Alison Waters (Eng) bt Melissa Martin (Aus)  9-2, 10-9, 9-4

Qualifying Round One:
Tania Bailey (Eng) Bye
Runa Reta (Can) bt Katy Brewster (Usa) 9/0, 9/0, 9/0
Dominique Lloyd -Walter (Eng) bt Lily Lorentzen (Usa) 9/2, 9/1, 9/0
Meredeth Quick (Usa)) bt Louisa Hall (Usa) 9/6, 9/0, 9/2
Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) bt Julie Lilien (Usa) 9/2, 9/1, 9/0
Amelia Pittock (Aus) Bye
Melissa Martin (Aus) bt Britt Hebden (Usa) 9/0, 9/0, 9/0
Alison Waters (Eng) Bye

 
Reports
16-Oct, Semi-Finals:

[3] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [1] Cassie Jackman
(Eng) 5/9, 9/4, 9/3, 6/9, 9/0 (57m)[4] Linda Elriani (Eng) bt [2] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)  9/7, 9/6, 9/6 (55m)

Cassie Crashes to Grainger
Mark Devoy reports from Heights Casino


Both semi-finals of the Weymuller US Open at Heights Casino saw the seedings upset, as Natalie Grainger ended Cassie Jackman's attempt to retain her title, and Linda Elriani beat Vanessa Atkinson.

Grainger, playing only her second event since February,  was a little slow starting as Jackman took the first game. But the US number one came back strongly, winning numerous points from her backhand drop played from the back of the court, to take the next two games.

Jackman took the fourth, eliminating the errors that saw her lose the second and third games, to set up a deciding fifth. Grainger came on strong, dominating with volleys and good shots forcing two early errors from Jackman, and then took the game in 7mins – restricting Jackman to just two serves.

Elriani pulled out all stops and could do no wrong in a tight three set match. Atkinson played well but became frustrated as Elriani retrieved and attacked everything she put up.

Will she be able to do the same tomorrow? History is on the Englishwoman's side as she has won all four finals the pair have contested since 1996.

But whoever wins, there will be a new name on the trophy ...

15-Oct, Quarter-Finals:
Top Four move into Weymuller Semis


The top four seeds will contest the Weymuller US Open at the Height Casino Club in New York.

Defending champion Cassie Jackman, attempting to win her fifth US Open title, scored a second straight games victory, beating Malaysia's Nicol david 9/4, 9/5, 9/6. Jackman's semi-final opponent will be the USA's Natalie Grainger.

Grainger, playing only her second tournament since taking a break in February, needed five games to see off the challenge of Vicky Botwright. Grainger looked in control as she took the third 9/0 to go 2-1 up, but Botwright slowed the game down, cut out the unforced errors, and clawed her way back into contention. In the fifth, however, Grainger's backhand drops caught a tired Botwright in the back of the court and the US No1 came through to win 7-9 9-4 9-0 4-9 9-3 in 65 minutes.

The other semi-final sees England's fourth seed Linda Elriani, who eased past an inconsistent Jenny Duncalf 9/1 9/7 9/1, face the Netherland's world number three Vanessa Atkinson.

Atkinson ended the run of France's Isabelle Stoehr, recovering from 8-2 down to take a tight first game. Stoehr wasted six game balls, and a string of errors allowed Atkinson back into the game before racing away to a 10/8 9/1 9/1 victory.


14-Oct, Round One:

Jackman on course as Stoehr stuns Geaves


Cassie Jackman's bid for a fifth US Open title got off to a smooth start as the Weymuller US Open moved into main draw action at New York's Height's Casino.

Jackman, the defending champion and top seed, beat compatriot Stephanie Brind in straight games and now meets Malaysia's Nicol David, who enjoyed a similar scoreline against qualifier Dominique Lloyd-Walter.

Hopes of a home victory rest with Natalie Grainger, who made a successful comeback to the WISPA tour in Atlanta last week. Grainger eased past Australia's Amelia Pittock to set up a quarter-final clash with Vicky Botwright, who needed five games to see of the challenge of Alison Waters.

USA wild-card Latasha Khan couldn't get past England's Linda Elriani, who faces an all-English quarter-final against Jenny Duncalf, who recovered from a first-game loss to beat Kiwi Shelley Kitchen in four games.

Second seed Vanessa Atkinson was also tested in four games by Tania Bailey, and faces an unexpected quarter-final opponent in France's Isabelle Stoehr, who created the upset of the day in defeating fifth seed Fiona Geaves.
 


Jackman Aims For Fifth US Open Title

England's world No2 Cassie Jackman is in line to win her fifth US Open title when the Women's Weymuller US Open gets underway on Thursday 14th at the Heights Casino in New York.

The defending champion is top seed in the event and due to begin her 2004 campaign against compatriot Stephanie Brind, the world No19 from Kent. Jackman, from Norfolk, is scheduled to face second seed Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, in the final in what would be a repeat of last year's semi-final.

Atkinson's first round opponent is English qualifier Tania Bailey, the former world No4 from Lincolnshire who is fighting back to top form after a series of setbacks. The 25-year-old cruised through her qualifying final against Runa Reta, beating the Canadian 9-1 9-3 9-2.

Top US player Natalie Grainger will also be looking for glory in her national open event. The Washington-based world No5 is seeded three and arrives in New York fresh from her comeback victory in last week's Atlanta Masters in Georgia. Grainger faces Australian qualifier Amelia Pittock in the opening round, en-route to a projected semi-final clash with Jackman.