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Two on Tour
Glen Wilson talks to Natalie Grinham ...
 After
almost a year off the tour Natalie Grinham, the former
world number two and triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist,
has been back competing on the WISPA tour for the past 6 months.
Married to former Dutch player Tommy Berden, Natalie has
been travelling the globe again playing the game she loves but
this time she has a full time companion to look after in baby
Kieran.
As if playing the tour is not hard enough but to look after your
young one, well that’s a whole new challenge.
We caught up with Natalie during her first practice and feeding
session ..
How do you cope when Kieran is with you at a tournament?
 It’s
amazing how busy you become when you have a baby, so when I’m
away playing it’s tough, but when I’m off court I love spending
as much time with him as I can.
Some of the girls on the tour are great with him and take him
from time to time while I’m playing or practicing, but I
wouldn’t have it any other way.
So coming back onto the tour, how challenging has it been?
 Well,
to lose over 20kg was the first part and after that it was
really about getting my body back into some kind of condition so
I could go out and start competing again.
It’s been tough but I have been playing now for six months and
I’ve had some up and down performances, but these last few weeks
I’m nearly back to the weight I was when I was number two in the
world and I am starting to move much better.
Well, that’s not something a lot of the girls would want
to hear especially with your ranking being at 34! It's great to
see you in Montreal ...
The reason I decided to come to Montreal was because I feel
there are a number of girls that could win it, including myself.
I could also lose first round but there’s an opportunity to do
well here so that’s why I am here.
 Do
you think you can get back into the top 10?
I’m going to play for as long as I’m fit and able so I cannot
put a date or figure on it.
I would like to have more kids later on so I am just enjoying
the tour for now and trying to do as well as I can, but who
knows what the future holds.
Natalie’s an incredibly talented, quick and experienced player
who we will all be watching out for as she continues to climb
the rankings back towards where she sees herself going, and
that’s back into the world's top 10.
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Atwater Cup 2011
