SquashTalk >Cathay Pacific World Open 2005, Hong Kong, China > Women's Preview

Report Filed by Ron Beck; 30-nov-05 0:39 EST

The drama has been unfolding since a year ago September, when Vanessa Atkinson and Rachael Grinham squared off in the 2004 British Open semi finals in Nottingham.

RACHAEL WORLD #1

World #3 Nicol David and World #1 Rachael Grinham

Rachael had inherited the world #1 position on the sudden retirement of Carol Owens and Cassie Jackman. Their departure left Rachael securely as the world's best woman squash player. Vanessa Atkinson, however, with boundless physical capabilities, determination and tactical potential improved rapidly and was hot on Grinham's heels.

VANESSA ON FIRE
Vanessa was on fire at the 2004 British Open. She had that look in her eye. She had everthing together and focused. In a packed house in Nottingham, she took and insurmountable 2 games to love and 7-2 lead in the third. Then it all fell apart for her. Grinham went on to win the match and the tournament.

Vanessa regrouped and was practically unbeatable in the winter of 2004 and spring of 2005. She was playing the best in the world. But still #2 in the world, due to the vagaries of the ranking calculator.

Vanessa won the World Open in December of 2004, and was on fire in the spring.

NICOL DAVID ON THE RISE

Vanessa Atkinson and Rachael Grinham switch places on December 1st. (photo © Fritz Borchert)

But in June 2005, at the Dutch Open, with the eyes of her country on her, Vanessa ran into the Malaysian dynamo, Nicol David. David, who had moved to Holland to train with Vanessa's mentor, Liz Irving, had progressively tightened up her game. Now David was ready to take on the elite of the elite. She toppled Vanessa in the Dutch Open final. Then she did it again, beating Vanessa in the Malaysian Open. Malaysia has always been one of Vanessa's favorite venues, a place where she has always played well. But this double loss put Vanessa into a spin.

Vanessa' spin lasted well into this fall. Vanessa had two terrible losses. She lost in the British Open to Alison Waters and in the Carol Weymuller to Isabelle Stoehr. Was she in free fall?

At the beginning of this month, in Monaco, Vanessa regained her balance. She pulled her game together and roared through the field, exacting revenge against Isabelle Stoehr and going on to smoke the determined Madeline Perry in the finals.

Then, last week, Vanessa showed she was peaking at the right time. She ploughed through the elite field at the Qatar Classic to collect the richest purse of the year. In Qatar, she defeated Tegwen Malik, Tania Bailey, Jenny Dunchalf, Natalie Grinham and Vicky Botwright. No easy matches there, but she made them all look easy.

And with the win, Vanessa ascends to #1 in the world, at least for the month of December, 2005.

HANDICAPPING THE FIELD
So who's the favorite here in Hong Kong at the World Open?

Natalie Grinham - can she break through in Hong Kong . (photo ©Debra Tessier )

Rachael Grinham told the Malaysian press that Nicol David was the favorite, based on her recent strong results. Nicol David won the World Games and then British Open and the Carol Weymuller in October. But she lost to Vanessa in the semi finals of the Seattle Open in four games. And she lost to Vicky Botwright in Qatar.

Rachael certainly should be highly motivated. She will have the motivation to regain #1 in the world, and to pursue this prestigious title. Rachael won the Seattle Open, over Vanessa in the finals, and the Hedonism II, over Omneya Abdel Kawy. Rachael is a formidable competitor at all times, and my feeling she is dangerously lying in wait for Nicol and Vanessa. Rachael also has the secret weapon (not so secret) of her sister. Sister Natalie is always there to coach on her sister.

And then there's Vanessa. Though she lost to Nicol David in Holland and Malaysia, she came back to defeat her in Seattle. Though she lost to Isabelle in New York, she came back to crush her in Monaco. Vanessa has regained her confidence and her game.

DARK HORSES
But the World Open is not only about these three. There are three strong dark horse candidates. There is Rachael's sister, Natalie, who is drawn into Rachael's top half of the draw. Natalie could knock off Rachael if she reaches the semis. Also lurking dangerously in the draw are Linda Elriani, still motivated and still with all the weapons, and Vicky Botwright, who defeated Rachael Grinham and Nicol David in Qatar.

Oh, and if Nicol David should beat Vanessa Atkinson in the semi finals in Hong Kong — she takes over as world #1 for January.

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