WORLD SQUASH NEWS
RESULTS: Women's Hurghada International Squash Championship, Hurghada, Egypt
Semi-finals:
[1] Carol Owens (NZL) bt [6] Cassie Jackman (ENG) 10-8, 9-1, 9-0 (47m)
[4] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-0, 9-4, 9-3 (33m)
Owens & Grinham Line Up For Third Successive Final
New Zealand's world No2 Carol Owens and Australia's world No3 Rachael Grinham
will meet in the third WISPA World Tour final in as many weeks when they clash
in the climax of the Women's Hurghada International Squash Championship in the
Egyptian Red sea resort on Monday.
The first semi-final was the first meeting this year between Grinham and Dutch
No1 Vanessa Atkinson - with both players enjoying the best form of their careers
and boasting their highest world rankings.
Despite shouts of encouragement from the packed crowd from her mother Carol,
world No5 Atkinson was consistently outplayed by the Australian who took just
33 minutes to claim her 9-0 9-4 9-3 victory - and the 18th WISPA final of her
career, and fourth this year.
"It was less difficult than last night, against Natalie, as Vanessa made more
mistakes," Rachael explained to the Egyptian TV cameras afterwards. "Maybe it
was the heat and that there was no wind that helped me as Vanessa didn't play
as well as she has done. She is a good volleyer and so I was trying not to give
her the chance to play them," added the 26-year-old from Queensland, now based
in Cairo.
The second semi was a battle between former world champions - 2000 champion Owens
against her 1999 predecessor Cassie Jackman. The match halted almost as soon as
it started when, during the first rally, Jackman stopped to clutch her back having
been caught by Carol Owens. It was the site of her recent disc operation and so
a cause for concern - but mobility was restored after a few bends and stretches.
Indeed, the Englishwoman had got her eye in early and closed out the first few
rallies with élan.
Both players were working hard and there was little to choose between them as the
front wall was peppered with rasping drives and delicate drops mixed with lobs.
Jackman saved a game ball at 6-8 with a straight overhead kill off her opponent's
serve and followed with two winners to reach eight all. But the recovery work
was undone by a tinned boast after Owens has reached game ball again.
The first game had lasted 22 minutes and as the second unfolded Jackman's game
became more error-prone. This, combined with Owens taking the lively ball even
earlier, meant that the world No11 was not allowed to settle and became increasingly
unhappy with her lot in life. After 47 minutes, a disconsolate Jackman was able to
leave the scene of her eventual torture when Owens secured her 10-8 9-1 9-0 win.
"It was a tough first game, that's for sure," said the winner afterwards. Then
looking forward to the final, Owens added: "Rachael grew up playing me and I would
like to think I have the edge."