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 KL Women's
World
Open 2004
07-11 December, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
VIDEO REPLAYS
OFFICIAL SITE FROM KL |
11-Dec, FINAL:
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
bt [4] Natalie Grinham (Aus) 9/1, 9/1, 9/5
(33m)
 ATKINSON
WORLD CHAMPION
Vanessa Atkinson became the 10th Women's World Champion when
she continued her impressive run of recent form, despatching
Australia's Natalie Grinham in straight games in the final in
Kuala Lumpur.
The triumph caps a spectacular year for the British-born Dutch
Champion, her eighth title of 2004, and her third successive victory
at the National Squash Cente in Bukit Jalil.
But this one is the most important, by far, and she becomes the first
European to win the world title since 1999.
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 11-Dec,
THE FINAL:
Alex Wan reports
from Kuala Lumpur
ATKINSON CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION
Having yesterday finished off the world number one in 21 minutes,
Vanessa Atkinson today completed the massacre when she totally
outplayed the younger Natalie Grinham in a slightly longer
match, 33 minutes to be precise. Natalie had hoped to avenge her
sister’s defeat but little did she know what Atkinson had in store for
her ...
The match
 From
the moment the marker announced “love all”, Atkinson was at full
speed.
Though Grinham picked up the first point of the game, that was all she
was to get. Two great rallies saw Atkinson level at 1-1. Grinham won
the next and that was the only time she got to serve until she saved a
game ball.
She saved that game ball, but a simple lob flew out of court and
Atkinson then seized the opportunity to go one up.
It was very obvious that Atkinson was simply moving Grinham around the
court all through the first game to test her legs after yesterday’s
match.
Contrary to Atkinson’s 22 minutes, Grinham had a tough 87 minute
encounter in a 'battle of the bunnies' against Malaysia’s very own
Nicol David. Having led 2-0, she allowed David to crawl back and force
a brutal decider. That long hard match had taken its toll on Grinham,
who had problems getting to the front during the final. She was seen
limping at the reception after the match, a testimony of her
discomfort.
 The
second was similar to the first, the only difference being that
Atkinson burst into a flawless 7-0 lead. Mistake-free conservative
squash, controlling the T with amazing authority.
Grinham didn’t manage to win a point after forcing the first hand out
of the game, and allowed Atkinson to go to game ball before she saved
it and finally won a point. Once again though, Atkinson wasted no time
to finish it.
At this point, it had only been 17 minutes of court time so unless
Vanessa finished it in five minutes, it would be longer than her 22
minute workout yesterday.
2-0 up and having dropped only two points in the entire match,
Atkinson was beaming with confidence, but it didn't go quite to plan,
as it was Grinham who got the upper hand, racing to a 3-0 lead, and a
stroke against Atkinson made it 4-0.
Either Atkinson was feeling the jitters or Byron Davies did wonders in
the 90 second break! Grinham picked up another point to move ahead
5-1, but Atkinson was not going to let her British Open semi final
nightmare have a chance of recurring. A topspin forehand to the back
from Grinham was retrieved with a boast so tight and low, it didn’t
get replied – hand out to Atkinson.
 Slowly
but surely, she plotted her comeback. From 2-5 right up to 5-5,
Grinham contributed all of those by sending the ball into the tin.
Atkinson returned the favour to hand serve back to Grinham in the
next, which she got back immediately to earn a point.
Grinham made a loud “come on” yell again - which worked yesterday –
but today, it deserted her, as she never got another serve after
losing the next rally. 13 minutes of good squash from both players.
Though the score might not suggest so, it was close.
The win crowns Vanessa Atkinson as the 2004 Women’s World Champion, an
achievement that will last her a lifetime.
Alex Wan
Playing in front of Jahangir ...
Vanessa
Actually, it helped me play better knowing that he was there. In
the back of my mind, I wanted very much to show him women’s
squash and that it can be good too.
Natalie
Obviously, in the back of my head I’m wondering what’s he
thinking or thinks of this. But in the court, my mind is fully
concentrated on the match itself.
Not only was Jahangir present, this Women’s World Open has also
seen an all-star audience comprising of Susie Simcock
(WSF Emeritus President ), Tunku Imran or better known as
“Pete” (Patron WSF), A.Sani Karim (Vice President WSF),
the prince of the first King of Malaysia, YAM Tunku Laxamana
Tunku Naqiyuddin Ibni Tuanku Jaa’far, Bob Elphinston
(IOC Delegate), Puan Sri Irene Lee (wife of the late SRAM
President Tan Sri Alex Lee), not forgetting squash lovers who
have travelled from as far as Korea, Thailand and one even from
Slovenia! And of course, WISPA's Andrew Shelley was here
too ...
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How does it feel to be a World Champion?
“Wow! That’s a hard question to answer right now really. Being
the world champion is like a dream come true for me. I’ve had
this dream ever since I started playing squash when I was 10
years old. Back then, I dreamed and said it because it was the
right thing to say. I never thought it would turn out to be a
reality, but today it did.”
What about KL?
“I just love this place. I’ve never lost on this court and I
just want to wrap it up and bring it to every tournament I play
in. It really suits my game. I love it here in KL, the food here
is amazing. I’ve been eating every day, having char kuey teow
(stir fried flat rice noodles with cockles) and everything else.
I feel like I’m playing at home! (referring to the many
congratulatory wishes and hugs from Malaysians who’ve seen here
so often)”
Skipping Shanghai did
you good?
“Definitely a good move and it made such a huge difference. Just
look at the amount of injuries on the tour right now (It's
probably not a coincidence that people keep walking out on
Vanessa! Alex). It gave me some good rest and time to really
prepare myself for these two biggest tournaments of the year
(Qatar Classic and World Open). I wanted to do well and prepare
myself fully for these.”
Vanessa Atkinson |
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You must be gutted…
“Not entirely. I’ve reached the World Open Final!”
Yesterday’s long hard match affected you?
“I didn’t quite feel flat but my groin was giving me problems,
so it was very hard getting to the front. But Vanessa played a
superb match, a superb whole tournament in fact.”
Natalie
Grinham |
WSF President Jahangir Khan presents the trophy
QUICK FACTS
ON THE WORLD CHAMPION
* She has won 8 tournaments this year, three of which were on
this court.
* She has not lost a single match on this court.
* She took an average of 42.6 minutes to win her matches in the
first three rounds, but took mere 26 minutes per match in the
semi final and final.
Vanessa Atkinson
World Champion. |
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KL Women's World Open
2004
07-11
December, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, $63k |
First Round
Tue 07 |
Last 16
Wed 08 |
Quarters
Thu 09 |
Semis
Fri 10 |
Final
Sat 11 |
[1]
Rachael Grinham (Aus)
9/0, 9/4, 9/2 (21m)
[Q] Melissa Martin (Aus) |
Rachael Grinham
9-1, 9-0, 7-9, 9-5 (50m)
Madeline Perry |
Rachael Grinham
9/1, 9/1, 9/7 (41m)
Jenny Tranfield |
Rachael Grinham
9/0, 9/2, 9/2 (22m)
Vanessa Atkinson
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Vanessa Atkinson
9/1, 9/1, 9/5 (33m)
Natalie
Grinham |
[16] Madeline
Perry (Irl)
9/4, 9/2, 9/5 (44m)
Rebecca Chiu (Hkg) |
[7] Fiona
Geaves (Eng)
9/1, 10/9, 9/4 (38m)
Tania Bailey (Eng) |
Tania Bailey
7/9, 9/2, 9/3, 9/6 (42m)
Jenny Tranfield |
[10]
Jenny Tranfield (Eng)
9/4, 9/0, 9/0 (29m)
[Q] Kasey Brown (Aus) |
[3]
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned)
9/2, 5/9, 9/2, 9/7 (30m)
Pamela Nimmo (Sco) |
Vanessa Atkinson
9/6, 9/6, 2/9, 10/8 (55m)
Vicky Botwright |
Vanessa Atkinson
7/9, 9/1, 9/3 rtd (35m)
Linda Elriani |
[11]
Vicky Botwright (Eng)
9/7, 10/8, 8/10, 9/3 (55m)
[Q] Tamsyn Leevey (Nzl) |
[5] Linda
Elriani (Eng)
9/3, 9/4, 9/1 (33m)
[Q] Engy Kheirallah (Egy) |
Linda Elriani
9/5 , 9/7 , 8/10 , 9/2 (79m)
Jenny Duncalf |
[13]
Jenny Duncalf (Eng)
9/3, 9/6, 9/3 (30m)
Latasha Khan (Usa) |
Laura
Lengthorn (Eng)
6/9, 9/4, 9/7, 9/7 (63 m)
[14] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) |
Laura Lengthorn
9/5, 9/7, 9/5 (45m)
Rebecca Macree
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Rebecca Macree
9/6, 9/3, 9/0 (32m)
Natalie Grinham |
Natalie Grinham
9/3, 9/7, 2/9, 9/10, 9/7 (87m)
Nicol David |
Carla
Khan (Pak)
9/7, 9/3, 7/9, 9/7 (83m)
[8]
Rebecca Macree (Eng) |
[Q] Runa
Reta (Can)
9/4, 2/9, 7/9, 9/5, 9/4 (67m)
[15] Stephanie Brind (Eng) |
Stephanie Brind
9/7, 9/4, 9/1 (39m)
Natalie Grinham |
Annelize
Naude (Ned)
10/8, 9/1, 9/4 (44m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (Aus) |
Alison
Waters (Eng)
2/9, 6/9, 9/4, 9/3, 9/5 (56m)
[9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) |
Alison Waters
10/8, 7/9, 9/2, 10/8 (50m)
Nicol David |
Nicol David
9/7, 9/3, 9/4 (28m)
Shelley Kitchen |
[Q]
Tegwen Malik (Wal)
9/3 , 9/0 , 9/3 (21m)
[6] Nicol David (Mas) |
[Q]
Amelia Pittock (Aus)
9/4, 6/9, 9/1, 9/5 (51m)
[12] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) |
Shelley Kitchen
9/5, 9/4, 9/7 (40m)
Cassie Jackman |
[Q]
Dominique L/Walter (Eng)
9/1, 9/1, 9/5 (29m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (Eng) |
Qualifying
(05/06 Dec):
Finals:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
bt Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) 9/7, 9/3, 9/2 (35m)
Melissa Martin (Aus)
bt Becky Botwright (Eng) 3/9, 8/10, 9/2, 9/5, 9/7 (47m)
Amelia Pittock (Aus)
bt Diane Desira (Aus) 9/7, 9/0, 9/7 (46m)
Runa Reta (Can) bt
Heidi Mather (Aus) 9/5, 9/5, 9/4 (31m)
Kasey Brown (Aus) bt
Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) 8/10, 9/7, 9/2, 9/6 (73m)
Tamsyn Leevey (Nzl) v Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 9/5, 9/3,
9/6 (31m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) Lauren Briggs (Eng) 9/6,
9/6, 9/3 (57m)
Tegwen Malik (Wal) v Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) 9/0, 6/9,
9/7, 9/2 (43m)
First Round:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
bye
Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) bt Line Hansen (Den) 10/8, 9/10, 2/9,
9/4, 9/6 (74m)
Melissa Martin (Aus) bt Lim Yok Wah (Mas) 9/4, 9/1, 9/5 (23m)
Becky Botwright (Eng) bt Jemma Saxby (Aus) 9/3, 9/1, 9/1 (18m)
Amelia Pittock (Aus) bt Triciah Chuah (Mas) 9/2, 9/6, 9/5
Diane Desira (Aus) bt Delia Arnold (Mas) 9/6, 9/6, 9/5 (27m)
Heidi Mather (Aus) bt Nur Adawiyah (Sin) 9/1, 9/0, 9/1 (20m)
Runa Reta (Can) bt Sally Looi (Mas) 9/4, 9/4, 9/4 (28m)
Kasey Brown (Aus) bt Amnah El Trabolsy (Egy) 9/0, 9/4, 9/6
(28m)
Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) bt Eman El Amir (Egy) 9/3, 10/8,
9/10, 9/0 (45m)
Raneem El Weleily (Egy) bt Sarah Kippax (Eng) 8/10, 6/9, 9/7,
9/3, 9/6 (51m)
Tamsyn Leevey (Nzl) bt Elise Ng (Hkg) 9/2, 9/4, 9/0 (20m)
Lauren Briggs (Eng) bye
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Eng) bt Manuela Manetta (Ita) 9/2,
9/7, 9/0 (30m)
Karen Kronemeyer (Ned) bye
Tegwen Malik (Wal) bye
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