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Fri 7th July,
QUARTERS: |
Today in Hyderabad from
Steve
Cubbins and Alex Wan |
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Quarter-Finals at
Falaknumah Palace
Steve
Cubbins reports from Hyderabad
The first day's play in front of the
impressive Falaknumah Palace saw Rachael and Natalie Grinham set up
another of their sisterly clashes, while Jenny Duncalf won the all-English
quarter and goes on to face Nicol David in the semis ... and the whole
session went out live on Indian TV.
[2] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt
[7] Tania Bailey (Eng)
9/6, 9/7, 9/3 (53m)
[3] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
10/8, 9/0, 9/1 (35m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt
[4] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
9/6, 9/10, 9/5, 9/7 (77m)
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt
[8] Alison Waters (Eng)
4/9, 9/1, 9/2, 9/6 (47m)
Semi-finals start at 19.00
local (14.30 UK)
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Alex on the Qtrs
Photo Galleries
En Bref, Issue 5 |
[5] Jenny Duncalf
(Eng) bt
[4] Vicky Botwright (Eng)
9/6, 9/10, 9/5, 9/7 (77m) |
Jenny comes through
 These
two play each other often and know each others' games so well, it
would be a surprise if they didn't have a long, hard match, as they
have in the English Open, National League, Gerrard Grand Prix and many
more.
This was no exception. On a hot humid night in front of the palace the
first two games were long, with long rallies the order of the day.
Vicky looked to be working a little harder, and was always playing
catchup in the first. They were stuck at 2-all and 7-3 for ages
- in fact had they been playing PAR scoring it would have been 20-15
to Jenny.
The second followed a similar pattern, but with Vicky just maintaining
the lead throughout, winning the tie-break after squandering one game
ball at 8-6 (that one would have been 24-23 to Vicky in PAR).
But the third was quick. Vicky led mid-game, but was unhappy with her
game - "this is like junior squash" she cried at one bad miss - but
Jenny pulled back to take the lead.
And she did it again in the fourth. Vicky had looked the stronger as
she built a 7-1 lead, but that suddenly vanished as Jenny started a
comeback that was to see her win eight unanswered points, the match,
and a place in the semis.
 "It was hot and humid on
there and the rallies were really long to start with.
"After three hard games I think I relaxed at the start of the fourth,
but I thought 'we've been on here a long time' so tried to extend it
so that if it went to a fifth at least she would be tired.
"After I won a few points I could sense that she was getting tired and
edgy, so I kept the pressure on and thankfully won it in four.
"I' really pleased to be in the semis, it's a great setting. The floor
is good, it plays very much like normal ones."
Jenny Duncalf |
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"I couldn't believe how bad my squash was today. Most of my balls were
ending up in the middle of the court so I had to rely on running and
got absolutely knackered.
"I lost momentum at 7/1 in the fourth, felt really drained and just
couldn't run any more.
"In these conditions you have to play better squash, you can't rely on
running. Jenny didn't play that great either, but she was better than
me and did enough to win, which is what counts.
"It's disappointing, I only get to play one in this great setting."
Vicky Botwright |
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[1] Nicol David (Mas)
bt
[8] Alison Waters (Eng)
4/9, 9/1, 9/2, 9/6 (47m) |
Nicol turns it on
 It
was a great start for Alison Waters as she took the game to the world
champion from the start, controlling the rallies as she took charge of
the match.
It turned quickly in the second. At 1-all Alison won the serve with a
leaping volley into the nick, followed it up with an awful tin and
never got back into the match until she was 2-1 down.
Nicol was dominant now, forcing the pace, playing delightful drops and
deceptive cross-court flicks, and returning everything Alison could
throw at her.
Alison got into the match at the start of the fourth, extending the
rallies and holding her own again to 7-6 down. Two tins finished
the match in the Malaysian's favour, but the English girl can be happy
with her showing tonight.
 "When
Alison gets in front of you she's dominant, and she took it up
right from the start, I was just reacting to her shots.
"I had to get her behind me before I could do anything, and after
I managed to do that I could step the pace up.
"I got into my rhythm and was pleased with the way I was playing
by the end.
"The court and floor are very true, at least you know you're not
going to be slipping.
"I'm pleased to be through to the semis, it's my first tournament
after a couple of months break."
Nicol David |
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 "I've
had close games with Nicol before, so I knew I had a good chance.
You have to go on believing you can win.
"I just went for it at the start, thinking the pressure was all on
her. Then I started to get a bit loose and she got on top. She's
so fast, retrieves everything, and you just never get a breather.
"Overall I'm pleased with the way I player, but disappointed to
lose."
Alison Waters |
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[3] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) 10/8, 9/0, 9/1 (35m) |
A
game of two halves
It all looked to be going well for Omneya Abdel Kawy tonight as she
played controlled squash to take a deserved 8-3 lead over third seed
Natalie Grinham.
 Playing
patiently and firing in trademark winners when given the chance, an
upset looked on the cards.
But then it all changed.
Annoyed to get only a let on game ball, the Egyptian started firing
tins while Natalie found her game and started controlling the rallies,
making Omneya snatch even more.
And so it continued. A turnaround that meant Omneya was to win just
one more point as Natalie moved into position for a potential
Commonwealth final rematch against her big sister.
 "There
were a few funny bounces, and it took a little time to get used to
the court, but her shots were great at the start.
"At eight in the first she got a call that might have given her
the game which seemed to put her off.
"She started hitting balls in the middle and I was getting a few
strokes, which were strokes, but left her generally unhappy.
"I'm pleased to get through, I don't think I played exceptionally
well or anything, she was caning me in the first but then there
was a turnaround and I felt quite comfortable after that.
"I had a couple of months off after the Commonwealth Games, I'm
just getting back into it and I'm enjoying it."
Natalie Grinham |
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 "I
was playing the right game in the first, putting her to the back.
She likes to play in the front of the court, so I tried to keep
her back even if sometimes I had an easy kill at the front.
"I took control until 8-3 when I didn't get what I thought was a
stroke and that broke my concentration. After that I changed my
game and tried to win every rally in the front, which gave her
control.
"I tried to get my length back but I couldn't find it."
Omneya Abdel Kawy |
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Rachael on fire
 Living
in Cairo, Rachael Grinham is used to playing in hot conditions, and it
paid off tonight as she moved fleetingly around the court, putting
Tania Bailey under almost constant pressure.
After losing the first and going 4-0 down in the second, Tania came
back strongly, and at 7-all the match was poised. But Rachael finished
it off, and romped home from 0-3 in the third with nine unanswered
points.
So tomorrow it's Rachael against Natalie again. Rachael thinks it's
her turn. Trouble is, so does Natalie ...
 "It
was a tough three games, but I felt really good. I felt like I was
on fire and played really well, which I needed to do to beat Tania
on that form.
"The second was crucial. I knew that taking that could discourage
her in the third, it's a long way back in these conditions and
winning it left me pumped up to take it in three.
"That's the best I've played in a long time.
"Against Natalie tomorrow? It's my turn ..."
Rachael Grinham |
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 "I
knew I really needed to get one of the first two games, and I was
disappointed not to get the second.
"I was playing well, but with Rachael if you put anything loose
she's onto it. She was playing very well, it was never going to be
easy, it's just a shame I got her on such a good day.
"It's nice to play matches again after a couple of months off
though, training matches just aren't the same."
Tania Bailey |
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Alex on the Quarters ....
Alex
Wan reports |
Botwright runs out of steam
 An
all-English affair opened up play in the all-glass court set in front
of the magnificent Falaknuma Palace today. Vicky Botwright faced her
third English opponent, Jenny Duncalf, for a place in the last four.
In the first, Botwright never seemed to have gotten into the game as
her younger compatriot settled in nicely. She was struggling with her
length and width, and found the tin too often. Botwright came back
more convincingly in the next and drew level, and by this time, play
was close to an hour already. With matches starting at 7pm, this was
going to be a long night for us all.
Duncalf came back to take the third for a 2-1 lead, penalising
Botwright with winner after winner off the loose shots she was
presented with. In the fourth, all were prepared for the decider when
the lanky Botwright raced to a 7-2 lead. Tiredness kicked in and
Botwright struggled at this point, allowing Duncalf to come back
slowly to take the game and match.
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Waters tests David
Two bright ladies who were presented with WISPA awards a few days
earlier contested in the next match. The “Most Improved Player” Alison
Waters faced “Player of the Year” Nicol David, in a repeat of the 2004
World Open last 16, the last time I saw them both play. Waters has
improved leaps and her award was certainly well deserved.
David, as usual, was a late starter and dropped the first game. The
world number two upped the pace in the second and had Waters
struggling. Once David is controlling the game, it’s quite hard to
stop her. She went on pushing Waters too all corners of the court and
soon triumphed to book a date with her old nemesis Jenny Duncalf, whom
she played often battling for junior honours.
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Kawy Runs Out Of Ideas
Natalie Grinham started the ball rolling en route to setting up
another all-Grinham battle tomorrow.
 The
younger of the sisters was in devastating form in ejecting Omneya
Abdel Kawy, the talented Egyptian who strikes the ball ever so well.
Known as a runner, Grinham was retrieving everything Kawy threw at
her. Many of Kawy’s shots would have been winners had she faced
someone else, but the girl from Toowoomba was on fire tonight. She
made sure Kawy was sent all over the court, forcing her into numerous
mistakes or simply tiring her out, to the brink of frustration that
is.
Apart from a competitive first game, the score in the next two games
would tell that it was pretty much a one-sided affair. |
Grinham denies Bailey
The last match of the evening, which began just after 10pm saw Rachael
Grinham give an impressive account. The deceptive Australian is
clearly more comfortable on this court than the hot and bouncy ones in
the Secunderabad Club.
 Bailey,
ever so determined, fought hard. The games were close in patches,
especially the first, but all were definitely well contested. After
struggling the previous day against Rebecca Chiu, Grinham looked very
at ease today. Bailey was sent the wrong way too many times but each
time, she turned around and still managed to retrieve.
At the end of the day, Grinham was definitely the more impressive
player. She sets up a mouth watering semi final clash with her younger
sibling, whom she lost to the last time they met. |
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