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Nicol outlasts Natalie to
snatch Singapore crown
Philip Goh reports

Nicol David showed fans in Singapore just why she is the World No 1 with a fine display that was full of running and crafty shotmaking, outlasting her closest rival Natalie Grinham in 54mins to win the inaugural CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash Masters here at the Kallang Squash Centre.

The straight game scoreline belied a battle of attrition where both players were not only matching physical strengths but mental agility. Natalie was no slouch, make no mistake about that, but Nicol’s superior fitness and agility gave her the edge she needed to win the tournament.



It was all business for the two players from the word go. Natalie drew first blood, then went 3-0 up in the first game before Nicol got on the board. When Nicol tied the score at 3-3, Natalie changed the rhythm of the game by lofting the ball and slowing the game down. Evidently, she too believes that Nicol is at her best when playing fast and attacking. For a while, that tactic worked as Natalie took two points to lead 6-4.

But that was as far as she got, the hard work came undone when she gave away cheap points to allow Nicol back in, and the Malaysian proceeded to wrap up the game. For squash fans those  first 18 minutes set the tone for the rest of the match.

Nicol started the second game where she left off in the first, streaking to a 4-0 lead. A well-placed winner even provoked a yell of frustration from Natalie. However, Natalie was not about to capitulate. Playing some clever boasts and flicks, and keeping the play to the front, she managed to close the score to 4-3. Again Nicol stepped up a gear, pulling to 7-3 in front, and closing out the game 9-5.

Two games down, Natalie needed something special to turn the match around – or maybe for Nicol to let up. But this was not to be her day as Nicol kept up the pressure and duly sealed the win.

"Nicol played really well, she didn’t make many errors and in the end I started making a few. She gets to a lot more balls than other people, but I was prepared to play longer rallies.

"I still have a bit of soreness in my Achilles, and it affected my explosiveness and pushoff. I was a little frustrated with myself in the third game when I could feel the soreness. Playing Nicol you really need to be at your best, and I look forward to more matches with her."

Two titles in seven days takes Nicol’s tally to 21 from 71 WISPA tournaments played, and sits her two tournament wins behind Natalie’s sister Rachael among the active list.

Nicol’s next target is the Forexx Dutch Open from 30 August in Amsterdam, a city which both Natalie and Nicol can call home. Amsterdam is Nicol’s training base and she will have plenty of fans cheering her on there.

At the same time, Natalie’s husband and Dutch squash champion Tommy Berden will be organising the tournament, and she will be hoping for a change of fortunes. With the ladies seeded first and second, another Nicol-Natalie final could be on the cards in four weeks’ time.

In Singapore, it is Nicol who emerged victor and the reception here has been tremendous, with the final attended by well over 500 squash fans who will surely be looking forward to the next big tournament to be held here.

This week’s top action has certainly re-awakened interest in squash in this island republic and augurs well for more good things to come.

"I really have to be mentally tough to play Natalie, I have to work hard and play long rallies to win the points. You have to expect your opponent to mix things up and use whatever way possible to work the ball, so I had to be really disciplined and not try to do anything special in the air. You can’t do an attacking shot when the ball’s in the air like that so you have to be really patient.

"The key is to force the pressure back on your opponent and in the end Natalie started making a few mistakes. My focus was still up and down but I kept my rhythm and didn’t want to change anything or do anything special, I just wanted to stay tough and play my game and make her work hard.

"To start my season again with two wins from two tournaments is great for me. I will be definitely be spending some of my prize money tonight!"

Red hot Nicol storms into Singapore final
Philip Goh reports

It was full-power from the word go as World No 1 and top seed Nicol David took 23 minutes to despatch third seed Rachael Grinham in straight games to set up a final date with Natalie Grinham in the inaugural CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters at the Kallang Squash Centre.

It was yet another capacity turnout at the Kallang Squash Centre and mostly fans of Nicol, judging from their cheers. And they were treated to two superb matches, straight games notwithstanding.

Unlike the previous two evenings when Nicol took time to get going, the champion nicknamed the 'Duracell Bunny' stamped her authority right from the start. Playing a fast-paced game, she never allowed Rachael to settle. Displaying tremendous athleticism that wowed her admiring fans, Nicol was always faster to the ball and deadlier on the kill.

Two games down, Rachael changed her tactics in an effort to get back in, playing the ball up and slowing the game down. But Nicol was in no mood to let up and kept hitting winners.

Natalie takes her revenge

Natalie Grinham, meanwhile, was in no mood to let Tania Bailey dictate terms in the evening's first semi-final.

Second seed Natalie took twice as long as Nicol, but was just as effective in downing fourth seed Bailey, also in straight games, avenging her defeat to the Englishwoman a week ago in Kuala Lumpur.

The first game was nip and tuck and at one stage, it looked as though Tania was in the ascendancy. But the younger Grinham started stretching out the rallies and Bailey tired.

"My plan was to move Tania around and get her tired and I think I did that well. I stayed focused for most of the match.

"I'm looking forward to playing Nicol again. Hopefully tomorrow I can move well enough and play well."

Natalie Grinham

Rivalry Resumes ...

The world's top two players last met in late April in the final of the Seoul Open when Natalie stopped Nicol's unbeaten streak at 51 matches, winning 3/0 in 43 minutes to break a losing streak of five matches against the Malaysian, most of which were marathons.

Asked if she had revenge on her mind, having lost to Natalie the last time the pair met, Nicol said: "Not really. I just want to make sure I keep to what I'm doing, maybe bring my game up another level."

Just what these two squash queens will serve up should they bring the game up to another level, fans in Singapore cannot wait to find out. The final tomorrow will be held at 4pm local time. Admission is free and a full house is guaranteed.

"Knowing Rachael was going to start strong, I wasn't going to let her in to play her game. So I had to really bring my game in first.

"I've got more comfortable with the court now, the bounce and spacing, and started to get more of the feel of the ball, so I am playing a lot better."

Nicol David

"I was making errors when I shouldn't have. It just felt like it wasn't my day at all. I had to make her go for the ball because once I started attacking, it just became a lot more dangerous especially when she can get on to it.

"I had to float the ball and make sure that she had to win it. Nothing else was working anyway."

Rachael Grinham

"I was feeling a bit tired from yesterday's match with Jenny. I've had quite a few matches in the past week and my legs were starting to get a bit heavy and I had to try and go for winners and they were clipping the tin. I was struggling a bit and obviously Natalie got a lot more confident.

"I feel good that I've got a lot of things that I've taken from these last two tournaments. And I'm going to work on them for the next six weeks and come out even better in the next tournament."

Tania Bailey

"Omneya was unbelievable. I just didn't know what to do at times; she just kept mixing them up. She gets into the game and then gets out of the game, and sometimes in a game itself, she would be hitting rallies when I thought she was going for winners.

"I just found it hard to get focussed. It was a tough match, but I'm pleased with my game right now."

The evening got off to a rousing start with fourth seed Tania Bailey taken the distance by eighth seed Jenny Duncalf in an 84min encounter that threw the evening's playing schedule out of kilter. Bailey had to come from 2-1 down to beat Duncalf 3-2 in match that ebbed and flowed, keeping the fans spellbound.

The scene was set from the first game when Duncalf matched Bailey stroke for stroke, paying little heed to her opponent's higher ranking. Although playing catch-up for most of the game, including facing game-point, it was Duncalf who pushed on from 7-8 behind to win 10-8.

The pair then traded 9-3 games before Bailey found her groove to take the next two games to seal victory.

A relieved Bailey thus avenged her defeat to Duncalf in June's European Championship final.

The evening's second quarter-final went with script with Natalie Grinham showing no sign of the Achilles tendon twinge she picked up in Kuala Lumpur the previous week in despatching Ireland's Madeline Perry in straight games.

"I thought I played well and was very focused today so hopefully tomorrow I can just relax and play my game."

All set for two exciting semi-final matches tomorrow which promises to serve up more squash of the highest quality – with the world's top four players doing battle yet again.

"Nicol is simply playing at a level higher. I was making shots that I thought were winners – and would be winners against some other girl – but she was just hitting them back. I had to then hit another 'winner', then another.

"I wanted to at least get a game and gave it my all in the first game, but when that was lost, I knew it was not going to be my night."

"I'd lost to Jenny the last two times we played so I wasn't too surprised to be 2-1 down. I was really struggling at one stage as she has very good hold and does a lot with the ball including little boasts that I wasn't able to get to.

"Once I settled down and relaxed, I started playing a better length and lot tighter and regained control."

9/2, 9/2, 9/3 (23m)

Rachel Grinham

16.00

Natalie Grinham

9/6, 9/6, 9/1 (46m)

Natalie Grinham

Qualifying, 30/31 July:

Finals:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind)       9/2, 10/8, 9/3 (29m)
Tricia Chuah (Mas) bt Joey Chan (Hkg)                    9/5, 9/7, 4/9, 9/7 (42m)
Line Hansen (Den) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas)         9/3, 5/9, 9/2, 9/5 (49m)
Sharon Wee (Mas) bt Chinatsu Matsui (Jpn)             9/6, 9/6, 9/6 (36m)

Round One:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)   bye
Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Serene Lee Zhiling (Sin)    9/1, 2/9, 9/7, 9/2 (24m)
Tricia Chuah (Mas) bye
Joey Chan (Hkg) bt Lim Yoke Wah (Mas)                  9/7, 9/6, 9/5 (44m)
Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas) bt Delia Arnold (Mas)          4/9, 9/6, 9/1, 9/4 (39m)
Line Hansen (Den) bt Josefa Bertilsson (Swe)           9/2, 9/5, 9/1 (22m)
Chinatsu Matsui (Jpn) bt Elise Ng (Hkg)                    2/9, 9/7, 9/1, 9/4 (36m)
Sharon Wee (Mas) bye

Engy too strong for Joshna

Wee ousts Matsui

WISPA goes back to Singapore

The inaugural CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash Masters 2007, to be played at the Kallang Squash Centre from 1-4 August, will boast a star-studded line-up of 10 of the world’s top 11 women squash players. The list includes World No 1 Nicol David of Malaysia, who recently celebrated a full year on top of the World Rankings, and comes to Singapore on the back of her third successive victory in the CIMB Malaysian Open.

The Main Draw also comprises 2006 Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallists Natalie and Rachael Grinham, the Australians ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world respectively.

Also competing is Tania Bailey from England, the former World Junior Champion and 2006 and 2007 CIMB Malaysian Open runner-up who is currently ranked 4th in the world. Other notable players in the Main Draw include England’s Vicky Botwright (6th), Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy (7th), Ireland’s Madeline Perry (8th), England’s Jenny Duncalf (10th), who recently retained her European crown, and New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen (13th), winner of the Australian Open early this month.

The arrival of CIMB as the title sponsor heralds a new beginning for squash in Singapore that has not hosted a tournament of this stature in recent years. CIMB is the second largest financial services provider in Malaysia and a strong supporter of squash, sponsoring among others the CIMB KL Open and the CIMB Malaysian Open. CIMB’s support has boosted the development of the sport in Malaysia, with Malaysian squash players enjoying unprecedented success at international level.

"CIMB is proud to be the title sponsor of the inaugural edition of the CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2007. Our commitment to the community goes beyond seeking and creating opportunities to grow our customers' wealth.

"Like our Group, squash is continuing to grow regionally and we are proud to be playing a part in growing its popularity in Southeast Asia and internationally.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with the SSRA for the benefit of squash in Singapore."


 CEO of CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd

Singapore will be represented by the locally top-ranked Joannah Yue in the Main Draw with Serene Lee playing in the Qualifiers. This tournament will provide much-needed exposure for the local players as they continue their climb up the WISPA rankings.

"I’m sure many squash fans are as excited as I am about this tournament.

"I have a very tough assignment against Natalie Grinham in the opening round, but I am practising hard and hope to spring a surprise. This is good exposure for me and I will do my best."

The tournament also provides a boost for the SSRA’s efforts to reinvigorate squash in Singapore. The SSRA’s Mini-Squash programme for primary schools is one the many successful initiatives to make the game accessible at junior levels.

The tournament will be held at the Kallang Squash Centre from 1-4 August. Admission is free.
   

"The SSRA is delighted to be able to bring a world class event back to Singapore. We’re pleased that local squash fans will again be able to see the best players in the world in person and in action. A tournament of this calibre can also serve to support the growth of squash in Singapore.

"We are also pleased that CIMB has made this tournament possible with their generous sponsorship. We admire CIMB’s commitment to the sport of squash and we look forward to building on this new partnership and make this an annual event."


 Singapore SRA President

"Sports is an integral part of community development and squash has a cherished tradition in Singapore.

"This tournament is a great step forward for squash and I am confident it will be a great success."


  Government Minister
  and Patron of SSRA