Bailey Races Past Botwright
April 21, 2005, by Howard Harding
SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2005 all Rights Reserved;

In Battle of Natalies, Grainger beats Grinham this time[Complete draw]

Bailey Marches On In Doha

Natalie Grainger beats Natalie Grinham, photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert

England's Tania Bailey continued her giant-killing run in the Women's Qatar Airways Squash Challenge when she upset compatriot Vicky Botwright, the seventh seed, in the quarter-finals in Doha.

The 14th seed from Lincolnshire claimed an unexpected place in the last eight after despatching world-number-one-in-waiting Vanessa Atkinson, the defending champion and second seed, in straight games in the second round.

"We train together day in day out when we are on a tournament. So we know each other's game rather well," said Bailey to the press after her 9-5 8-10 9-5 9-0 victory in 76 minutes.

"I felt good, I was really moving well, and I was also volleying ok. I'm really glad with my fitness, I've put a lot of work into it, but it's been a long time since I played three games in a row and really felt fine. That's a great feeling."

Nicol David overwhelmed Madeline Perry, photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert

Bailey goes on to face USA's Natalie Grainger for a place in the final. Sixth seed Grainger also claimed an upset when she triumphed 10-8 7-9 10-9 9-2 over Australia's third seed Natalie Grinham in 63 minutes.

The other semi-final will feature Grinham's older sister Rachael Grinham and fourth seed Nicol David. Grinham senior survived a close four-game battle with England's Linda Elriani, beating the fifth seed 9-4 7-9 9-7 9-6 in 61 minutes, while David saw off Ireland's 11th seed Madeline Perry 9-3 9-1 9-6 in 24 minutes.

RESULTS: Women's Qatar Airways Squash Challenge, Doha, Qatar

Quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Linda Elriani (ENG) 9-4, 7-9, 9-7, 9-6 (61m)
[4] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-3, 9-1, 9-6 (24m)
[6] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 10-8, 7-9, 10-9, 9-2 (63m)
[14] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [7] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-5, 8-10, 9-5, 9-0 (76m)

Rachael Grinham outpointed Linda Elriani, photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert

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