Atkinson Also Advances
The world's top two women squash players will contest the final of the Women's Apawamis Open when Malaysia's Nicol David and the Netherlands' Vanessa Atkinson meet in the climax of the first WISPA Gold event of the year in Rye, New York.

David, who became world No1 last month, faced her predecessor in the semi-finals.  When Rachael Grinham took the third game, it seemed as if the Australian was on way to an upset when she led in the fourth. 

But the Netherlands-based world champion came back to win 9-7 9-2 1-9 9-5, thus reaching her first WISPA final of the year, but the 21st of her career.

England's Fiona Geaves put up a brave show in the first game against Atkinson.  The experienced 38-year-old, a qualifier who knocked out both the fourth seed Vicky Botwright and fifth seed Natalie Grainger, took the first game to a tie-break. 

But the fit Vanessa Atkinson kept Geaves under constant pressure, and ultimately romped to a 10-8 9-0 9-1 win in 35 minutes to reach her 30th WISPA Tour final.

RESULTS:        Women's Apawamis Squash Open, Rye, NY, USA

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-7 9-2 1-9 9-5
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Fiona Geaves (ENG) 10-8 9-0 9-1

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