[Complete draw]

It could not have been much fun for Vanessa Atkinson as she contemplated a re-match with Alison Waters in the semi finals of the Monte Carlo Classic. Waters had beaten her in the last two British Opens and had looked in good fettle as she had beaten higher seeded Madeline Perry the previous evening.

The 30 year old Dutch star had begun the year well, and as recently as July was sitting atop the world rankings. Those were the best of times, but having not been past the quarter finals of an event since winning the Tournament of Champions she had slipped to three in the player chart and is going through the best of uncertain times at present.

That said, although she succumbed 9/7 in the decider against resurgent Natalie Grainger in the last 16 of the World Open she had shown shoots of recovery. You don't get to be world number one and world champion without being special and blips come with the territory. Now, by simply reaching the semis in Monaco she had taken a step towards the promised land of victories.

Waters, still only 22, has serenely progressed up the rankings…..with some points impetus given by her Atkinson victories! Clearly, with the knowledge of past wins, Londoner Waters would enter the fray with belief.

Though confidence can be found in a player of any age, experience can only be gained as the episode of life is played. Atkinson has oodles and uses it well.

The first game in their semi final saw Waters early into a good length, and this, peppered with held flicks and some impetuosity from Atkinson meant that the first was easily won. Then the Classic holder started to do what she hadn't been earlier i.e. show some patience, winning the second with the same relative ease with which she had lost the first.

Waters was being advised by Madeline Perry, the player she had beaten the evening before, and her ministrations coupled with Atkinson going too short too early again, meant turvy would follow topsy. By retaining her shape a little Waters was two games to one up, though it would be fair to say that neither player was convincing except in patches.

Waters was ahead despite either a serious bandaged headwound or what may have instead been a white almost surgical bandanna! 

Back to topsy now with Atkinson profiting by hitting the tin less and levelling the match – without a single game being close.

Now Waters was entirely discombobulated, and managed to serve only once as Atkinson held her nerve.

As mentioned, experience counts for a lot. And to bolt on a further cliché, the best players are those that can win while playing badly.

Afterwards both players admitted that they had not been at their best.

Waters commented, “It was just one of those games. The last one at the British Open was a superb match but this time neither of us played as well. I thought I had a chance and it is annoying not to take it. “

The winner said, ”I assumed it would be hard as she is a player I have trouble with. The lively court would suit her too as she hits hard and low.

I like to move my opponents around but with the ball sitting up it was more like feeding so I had to try to be more patient!”

Looking forward to defending her title as a seventh time Classic entrant she added ”It feels good and I am just going to enjoy myself. There is no pressure and I don't have much in the way of a gameplan.”  

If you had told Tegwen Malik that not only would she have beaten a seed to reach the quarters, but then would face another non-seed she would have told you to stop smoking the weed! One may have been a possibility but surely not both.

But when Jenny Duncalf fell by the wayside as she waits for the chimes to signal the start of a new year, Sarah Kippax was also slaying a giant.

Malik, better known for steady performances than triumphs (a title, the Finnish Open, did come to her in early 2004), was only too aware that semi final opponent Natalie Grinham would not make it likely that she would need to rebook her flight again to stay for the final. Conversely, the fine form of Grinham was a release that would allow her to relax, enjoy the time and let the rallies flow. The 31 year old from the Welsh city of Swansea, a city apparently not named after swans in the sea there, did just that.

Both players flowed round the court, many of the rallies more akin to the parry and thrust of fencing, but Grinham would keep picking up the ball, offering up another chance to try something rash, and like so many before her, Malik would eventually do so. It all made for a delightfully enjoyable match, but the result was never in doubt.

Malik has a delightful touch, coupled with sheer athleticism, but was frustrated at every turn by the wiles of her opponent. She was certainly playing better than the 34 minute match scoreline suggested.

As Malik told an interviewer, “I was hitting the ball well and moving well, but playing Natalie is a step up. She is playing lovely squash.

I enjoyed getting to the semis here, the final in Oslo last week and it has been nice for some good fortune to come my way.

The winner was thinking forward to the final. “I just hope that tomorrow I can play as well as I have in the last few days. I haven't played Vanessa in a WISPA event I ages”.  

Grinham is the form player, and the Monte Carlo Classic title is there for her to lose. The small, tenacious Australian is focussed, though the vagaries of Atkinson’s form make it an uncertain journey.

11th MONTE CARLO CLASSIC   [Draw]
MONACO RESULTS
SEMI FINALS
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) (1) bt Alison Waters (Eng) (5) 2-9 9-4 0-9 9-2 9-0 (41m)
Natalie Grinham (Aus) (2) bt Tegwen Malik (Wal) 9-0 9-3 9-5 (34m) 

... The touring group in Monaco... (photo © 2006 WISPA)