RESULTS: Tranzparanz Squash Open, Almere, Netherlands
Men's semi-finals:
[Q] Tommy Berden (NED) bt [4] Rob Sutherland (WAL) 11-3, 11-5, 11-8
[7] Jonathan Harford (ENG) bt [2] Luca Mastrostefano (ITA) 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-0
Final:
[Q] Tommy Berden (NED) bt [7] Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-9, 7-11, 10-11 (2-4), 11-3, 11-7
Women's semi-finals:
[1] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [4] Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
[2] Louise Crome (NZL) bt [7] Lauren Siddall (ENG) 9-5, 9-0, 9-5
Final:
[1] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Louise Crome (NZL) 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
Berden & Grinham Record First Husband & Wife Win
Australia's Natalie Grinham and Dutchman Tommy Berden – who became Mr & Mrs Berden in March – have become the first husband and wife team to win a joint championship after collecting the trophies at the inaugural Tranzparanz Squash Open in Almere in the Netherlands.
Berden, the former world No22 who had been out of the game for six months due to injury, was a qualifier in the event – but dismissed the top seed in the opening round of the men's PSA Tour event before trouncing the sixth seed Fabien Verseille in the quarters, then fourth-seeded Welshman Rob Sutherland in the semi-finals – winning all three matches in straight games!
In the final, the 27-year-old four-times National Champion from Almere battled from two-games-to-one down to beat England's seventh seed Jonathan Harford 11-9, 7-11, 10-11 (2-4), 11-3, 11-7 to win the eighth PSA Tour title of his career – but his first for almost 18 months.
Natalie Grinham, the world No3 competing in her first WISPA event since winning a record three gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in her home country in March, had an easier run in the women's event.
The 28-year-old favourite from Queensland beat Ireland's No4 seed Aisling Blake 9-0, 9-1, 9-2 in the semi-finals, then produced the identical scoreline in her victory over second-seeded New Zealander Louise Crome in the final. The triumph signals the seventh WISPA World Tour title of her career.