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Greenwich Open
2007
09-14 Jan, The
Field Club (and others), Greenwich, USA |
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14-Jan,
Final:
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
[5] Natalie Grainger (Usa) 9/7, 9/5, 9/7
Two on the trot for Grinham
It's a second US title in two weeks for Natalie Grinham, as
she dashed hopes of a home victory with a three-game victory over
Natalie Grainger in the final at the Field Club of Greenwich to
claim her third consecutive WISPA title.
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A Grand Finals Day
Jack Farley reports from Greenwich
Today's grand finale saw the whole gamut of emotions...
New champions (both doubles and singles), defending champions
playing like champions, referee (Larry Sconzo) controlling
emotions on the court, juniors seeing serious doubles play for the
first time, juniors drawing a creative "Natalie vs. Natalie"
poster on the chalk board just outside the singles tournament
court, a doubles gallery that needed repeated coaxing to get
Patrons to squeeze together, and... the end of an era. What did I
forget?
North Sound North American
Open - Doubles Final
It looked like one of those anti-climatic finals when defending
champions Gary Waite/Damien Mudge quickly went up 2-0 in
games. They were totally dominant... including some great psyche
work. In fact, after one contested let call that Paul Price/Ben
Gould lost on appeal... there seemed to be a loss of focus by
Price and Gould as they gave up the second game without much
fight. So, the match looked to be soon over.
But wait... as Yogi would say, "It ain't over till it's over". The
third game began like it was a fresh start for BOTH teams as the
pace picked up dramatically. It was nip and tuck with Price/Gould
winning the third game 15-12. But, Waite/Mudge were still in
control two games to one.
The fourth game was again highly contested going down to 13-13
with Waite /Mudge calling for a two point tie-breaker. Waite/Mudge
won the first point in that tie-breaker only to lose 2-1 on an
uncharacteristic Waite tin for the final point.
Now two all in games... the fifth game was a seesaw battle on
several fronts. The lead changed several times... but so did the
pace as the crafty veteran Waite took some air out of the ball on
several shots using those whirlybird lobs that initially caught
Price/Gould off guard. But, in spite of all the veteran strategy
being used... the match again went to a tie-breaker at 13-13, this
time with Price/Gould calling for 5 points. In this final game
tie-breaker Waite/Mudge found themselves up 3-2 only to have
Price/Gould hit three consecutive blistering passes to WIN what is
certain to be a long remembered "keepsake" match that will be
talked about at every pub, lounge and locker room for years to
come.
This emotional game for many fans was just plain exciting squash.
There were no losers... only the memory of being courtside to
witness the end (interruption?) of Gary Waite's miraculous run...
ten consecutive victories, the last seven with partner Damien
Mudge.
Afterwards the salty veteran Waite declared, "We'll be back!" But,
before that, all four players graciously thanked the fans,
Patrons, Sponsors, pros, and Committee for again putting together
what is unquestionably the most coveted doubles tournament in the
world.
Special thanks to all the
players, Sponsors and Patrons who gave we committee members and
pros a job to do!
See you next year ! ! !
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Harrow Greenwich Open - Singles Final
This match did have a crowd favourite... it was "Natalie". Even
the juniors were excited at this highly unusual circumstance of
having finalists with the same first name.
This inspired several of the juniors to try their hand at drawing
up a poster featuring both Natalie's. This poster was done on the
chalk board on the wall just outside the tournament court where
the match eventually took place after a long delay due to the two
hour doubles finals that preceded. I guess, if you wanted to be
accurate, USA adopted Natalie Grainger may have been a slight
crowd favourite... but only slight as both girls are beautiful
players, beautiful people... and just plain beautiful to watch.
To get to the final, Natalie Grainger had to come through
the side of the draw that included defending champion Jenny
Duncalf and #1 seeded Vanessa Atkinson. So, she had a tough go...
as evidenced by each of her matches taking four or five games. In
contrast, Natalie Grinham won all her matches in straight games
3-0 each time.
Maybe that was one reason Natalie Grinham seemed to be
quicker and full of energy throughout this final. The first game
was back and forth with many hand-outs and with the scoring also
being balanced as they were tied at seven all. Then Grinham won a
point, then several hand-outs before Grinham triumphed 9-7 in the
first.
In the second game Grinham continued to play a highly energized
game that saw her make several spectacular gets of Grainger drop
shots that Grinham got to in time to make winning shots.
After a dominant second game by Grinham the crowd was getting
restless as they sensed the match was over... but Grainger came
out strong in the third game. In fact, Grainger was up 7-5 in the
third and had the crowd into the match. Then Grainger lapsed back
into drop shots that Grinham was too quick to allow. In fact, the
final two points were won by Grinham when she got to what
traditionally would be winners by Grainger... but Grinham would
not only get to them but get to them in time to make winners!
The crowd jumped to their feet in appreciation of the fine match
and the gallant effort by Grainger... but clearly the better
player to today was Natalie Grinham.
So... NATALIE won ! ! !
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13-Jan,
Semi-Finals:
[5] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [3] Tania Bailey (Eng)
9/7, 9/4, 9/3
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt [8] Alison Waters (Eng)
10/9, 9/0, 9/2
It's Nat G in Greenwich ...
Well, two Nat Gs, actually. The USA's Natalie Grainger will
meet Australia's Natalie Grinham in the final of the
Greenwich Open after both scored straight-games victories in
today's semi-finals at the Round Hill Club.
According to Steve Townsend, Grainger's coach, both matches
took a fairly similar shape with competitive first games but with
the English girls being worn down physically and perhaps a little
mentally also.
From the start of the second games both Natalies gained a degree
of control and never really relinquished it. Grainger with her
strong all court play, and Grinham with excellent speed onto the
ball, patience and consistency.
We are back to the Field Club tomorrow for what should be a great
final.
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12-Jan, Quarters:
Grainger upsets Atkinson
in Greenwich
World number three Vanessa Atkinson again failed to live up to
expectations when she crashed out of the Greenwich Open, beaten
9/0, 1/9, 9/6, 9/3 by fifth seed Natalie Grainger in the
quarter-finals.
Top seed Atkinson, the former world champion from the Netherlands,
lost unexpectedly in the first round of last week's Marsh Apawamis
Open in Rye.
Grainger, from Washington DC in the USA - and also a former world
number one - now goes on to meet No3 seed Tania Bailey, who beat
England team-mate Jenny Duncalf, the seventh seed, 9/4, 9/3, 9/4.
There will also be English interest in the other semi-final after
Alison Waters, the No8 seed from London, upset Ireland's fourth
seed Madeline Perry 9/6, 8/10, 9/4, 9/6.
Waters will face second seed Natalie Grinham, the in-form
Australian who despatched England's sixth seed Vicky Botwright
9/2, 9/0, 9/7. Queenslander Grinham, winner of the Apawamis Open
title, will be looking to notch up her fourth successive WISPA
final appearance.
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Unpredictable as ever ...
Steve Townsend reports
Natalie Grainger's matches are often unpredictable and her match
with Vanessa Atkinson was to prove no exception.
Grainger played completely flawless squash in the first, and
exited the court in a matter of minutes with you wondering how
Vanessa would mount a challenge. Then of course, predictably,
Vanessa won 15 out of the next 16 points, and you were left
wondering how can Grainger get back on track with Atkinson
dominating the scoring so heavily.
Cue the second complete switch in the match where Grainger stops
hitting the tin, gets in front of Vanessa and from 5-0 down in the
third, doesn't look back until she's won 3-1.
Tania and Jenny's match was less unpredictable. Each game was
competitive for a while before Jenny would start to lose her way
and start making a few too many errors. On a court with a very
quick front wall, play was mostly hard and fast. Jenny however,
was unable to get Tania out of her rhythm and off the T for long
enough, and Tania's extra strength outweighed Jenny's shot making
capabilities on this occasion.
The quarter-finals were split over two venues, so I only saw the
ones at Greenwich Field Club. The matches move to a new location
today, the Round Hill Club, and so we may see different style
matches for the semis.
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 Greenwich Open 2007
The Field Club (and others), Greenwich, USA
09-14 Jan, $33k |
Round One
11 Jan |
Quarters
12 Jan |
Semis
13 Jan |
Final
14 Jan |
[1] Vanessa Atkinson
(Ned)
9/3, 9/6, 3/9, 10/8
[Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) |
Vanessa Atkinson
9/0, 1/9, 9/6, 9/3
Natalie Grainger |
Natalie Grainger
9/7, 9/4, 9/3
Tania Bailey |
Natalie Grainger
9/7, 9/5, 9/7
Natalie Grinham |
[5] Natalie Grainger (Usa)
8/10, 9/7, 9/4, 3/9, 9/2
Laura Lengthorn (Eng) |
[3] Tania Bailey (Eng)
9/3, 9/4, 9/3
Sharon Wee (Mas) |
Tania Bailey
9/4, 9/3, 9/4
Jenny Duncalf |
[7] Jenny Duncalf
(Eng)
9/3, 9/2, 4/9, 9/0
Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) |
[Q] Latasha Khan (Usa)
9/1, 9/0, 9/7
[8] Alison Waters (Eng) |
Alison Waters
9/6, 8/10, 9/4, 9/6
Madeline Perry |
Alison Waters
10/9, 9/0, 9/2
Natalie Grinham |
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/0, 9/6, 9/7
[4] Madeline Perry (Irl) |
[Q] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng)
9/2, 9/2, 9/4
[6] Vicky Botwright (Eng) |
Vicky Botwright
9/2, 9/0, 9/7
Natalie Grinham |
[Q] Samantha Teran
(Mex)
9/0, 9/2, 9/7
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) |
Qualifying:
Finals:
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Nicolette Fernandez (Guy)
9/2, 9/5, 9/2
Samantha Teran (Mex) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind)
10/8, 9/0, 9/2
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bt Becky Botwright (Eng)
9/3, 10/8, 9/2
Latasha Khan (Usa) bt Lauren Briggs (Eng)
9/7, 9/1, 9/7
Round One, 09-Jan:
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Lily Lorentzen
9/3, 9/2, 9/0
Nicolette Fernandez (Guy) bt Neha Kumar (Can) 9/2, 9/3, 9/5
Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Tegwen Malik (Wal)
8/10, 9/10, 4/0 rtd
Samantha Teran (Mex) bt Lisa Camilleri (Aus)
7/9, 9/4, 9/7, 10/8
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) bt Amelia Pittock (Aus)
9/1, 9/6, 10/8
Becky Botwright (Eng) bt Aisling Blake (Irl)
8/10, 9/10, 9/3, 9/7, 10/9
Latasha Khan (Usa) bt Kirsty McPhee (Eng)
9/5, 7/9, 9/1, 9/1
Lauren Briggs (Eng) bt Manuela Manetta (Ita)
9/5, 9/6, 9/4
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11-Jan, Round One:
Bailey Bounces Back In Greenwich
Showing no signs of the breathing difficulties which caused her to
withdraw from last week's Marsh Apawamis Open in Rye, third seed Tania
Bailey romped to a straight games win over Malaysia's Sharon Wee in
the first round of the Harrow Women's Greenwich Squash Open at the
Field Club in Greenwich, USA.
The 27-year-old from Lincolnshire in England prevailed 3/0, and will
now take on England team-mate Jenny Duncalf for a place in the
semi-finals. Seventh seed Duncalf took four games to overcome New
Zealand's world No14 Shelley Kitchen 3/1.
Vanessa Atkinson put her shock first round loss in Rye behind her as
she beat New Zealand qualifier Jaclyn Hawkes 3/1. The top seed from
the Netherlands now meets local star Natalie Grainger, the fifth seed
from Washington DC who needed five games to wear down England's
unseeded Laura Lengthorn in five games.
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2006 Event
2005 Event
2004 Event |
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On to the Field Club ...
It's
a busy start to the season in the USA ... after last week's
Apawamis Open the WISPA girls move on
to the Field Club of Greenwich, new home of
recently-retired Linda Elriani,
who won the title here in 2004 and 2005.
Top seed is Holland's Vanessa Atkinson, looking to make
amends for her early exit in Rye, with the in-form Natalie
Grinham as second seed and defending champion Alison Waters
at number eight.
Qualifying got under way on Tue 9th, with seven-time US champion
Latasha Khan keeping alive hopes of joining compatriot
Natalie Grainger in the main draw with a four game win over
English youngster Kirsty McPhee. The longest match of the day saw
Becky Botwright come from two games down against Ireland's
Aisling Blake to claim a place in the qualifying finals. Having
lost the first two 8/10 9/10, Botwright battled back to level and
saved a match ball at 8/9 in the fifth before finally securing
victory.
In qualifying finals Khan overcame another Englishwomen
Lauren Briggs in three while Botwright was unable to make progress
against Kiwi Jaclyn Hawkes. Other qualifiers were
Dominique Lloyd-Walter and Samantha Teran. |
Linda Elriani |
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North American Open Doubles
Jack Farley reports
This tournament traces its roots to 1931 when Greenwich Country Club
began an amateur doubles tournament. It has a seventy-five year
tradition which is generally thought to be the oldest and longest
running doubles tournament in the world!
It began at the Greenwich Country Club in 1931
In 1984 it became a "professional" tournament when a purse was added
for the winners and the PSA sanctioned it. At the same time, a Pro-Am
was added.
In 1995 the Greenwich Country Club joined forces with the Round Hill
Club so the tournament had a broader base, higher purse, and this
joining of forces stimulated inter-club squash enthusiasm. But, it was
still a doubles only tournament that was still being played the
weekend before USA Thanksgiving Day (third Thursday in November).
Local pro doubles player Steve Scharff, based at the Round Hill Club,
was and is an important part of that relationship.
In 2001 it became an ISDA sanctioned event as the doubles players
formed their own organization which eventually became affiliated with
the PSA as it is today.
Then, in 2002, the NAO tournament joined forces with the Greenwich
Open singles tournament being run by the Field Club of Greenwich...
but, with no doubles play. The date was moved to January, the
traditional date for the GO. At the same time, the Pro-Am was
broadened to include mixed doubles because we now had professional
women in the tournament.
Gary Waite has dominated the tournament the past decade, more
recently with current partner, Damien Mudge. As well, all the
doubles players affectionately refer to "The Board" which is where all
the past winners are emblazoned in gold leaf on a beautifully
varnished fifteen foot high by three foot wide wooden board that is
mounted just outside the brand new glass walled doubles court at
Greenwich Country Club's now one year old Converse House.
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Qualification Matches:
Gough and Chaloner bt Langerhorst and Baden 3-0
Sabatineand Barquin bt
Hewwitt and Krizek 3-1
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