After being forced to miss recent major events on the international Squash circuit, world number two Natalie Grainger will mark her comeback at this week's A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s Open, the $55,500 WISPA World Tour Gold event at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand from 13-16 August.
It is the first time in 16 years that the event, which will be staged on an all-glass court at Bayfair Shopping Centre, has been held.
US star Grainger has recovered from a foot injury that has forced her off the Tour since reaching the final of the Texas Open in May.
New Zealand number one Shelley Kitchen is also coming back after illness: Troubled by a virus and extreme fatigue, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist exited the World Games in the second round. Kitchen returned to New Zealand, withdrawing from the CIMB Bank-sponsored Malaysian Open and Singapore Masters events.
"I had some time out and have bounced back well," said the world number ten from Auckland. "I think it was a virus and I just had no energy at all. But after a few days off, I feel fine and have trained well."
Kitchen has had training matches against fellow kiwis Jaclyn Hawkes, world number 16, and Joelle King, world number 39, in readiness for the New Zealand Open.
She and Grainger will test their fitness when they pair-off in two exhibition matches, in Kitchen’s home town of Kaitaia and at Herne Bay Squash Club on the North Shore before heading to Mt Maunganui for the WISPA event.
Top seed Grainger lines up against New Zealand number two Jaclyn Hawkes in the first round. In the final, the three-time US champion is expected to meet Dutch star Natalie Grinham, the in-form world number three who was runner-up in both the World Games and last week's Singapore Masters.
Organisers are thrilled with the strength of the field: "It’s just fantastic. We were hoping for three or four of the world top 10, but this is as strong as many of the major squash championships around the world - which is remarkable for our first New Zealand Open after so many years," said tournament director Wayne Werder.
"We have received tremendous international support since the announcement of the event and New Zealand has a rich heritage in the sport. We are going to see some absolutely sensational squash."
The New Zealand Women’s Open is being staged alongside the Men’s New Zealand Classic, a $10,000 PSA World Tour championship. Both begin tomorrow, with the qualifying rounds to find the final four places for the main draws that starts on Thursday.
Women's NZ Open 1st round draw:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Kasey Brown (AUS)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Qualifier
[7] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) v Annie Au (HKG)
[4] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Qualifier
[8] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) v Qualifier
[2] Natalie Grinham (NED) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
Men's NZ Classic 1st round draw:
[1] Kashif Shuja (NZL) v Alex Grayson (NZL)
[8] Anson Kwong (HKG) v Qualifier
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Qualifier
[5] Zac Alexander (AUS) v Nathan Stevenson (AUS)
[7] Justin Beard (AUS) v Wai Hang Wong (HKG)
[4] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) v Qualifier
[6] Joshua Greenfield (NZL) v Qualifier
[2] Martin Knight (NZL) v Graeme Wilson (NZL)