Vanessa Scores a Big Win
July 31, 2004, By Howard Harding; SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004

Atkinson stakes Claim by Beating New World #1 in Brunei

[Complete results/draw]

Vanessa Atkinson wins Brunei (photo WISPA)

Twenty four hours after becoming the world number one squash player for the first time in her career, Australia's Rachael Grinham suffered a defeat at the hands of world No3 Vanessa Atkinson in today's (Saturday) final of the Women's Brunei International.

Avenging her loss to Grinham in last April's semi-finals of the Texas Open, the eight-times Dutch National champion swept to a 10-8 9-5 3-9 2-9 10-8 victory in 76 minutes at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium Complex in the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan.

Early rallies were to a length and lengthy as the pair sparred with each other on the three-sided-glass court, though they were punctuated by the occasional tightly struck long drops which would give top seed Grinham the advantage in early exchanges. But the navy-clad Dutchwoman has a widening repertoire and was not to be left behind. Chasing down the increasing number of flicks and feints, she began to counter effectively.

Grinham reached the first game ball at 8-6, but two errors and a fine drop by her second-seeded opponent brought the score to eight-all. A tentative missed overhead from the Aussie waif took Atkinson to game ball - with the game then sealed on a mid court stroke.

Sister Natalie took the ninety-second break to try to re-focus the favourite, while Atkinson sat alone with her thoughts.

At game ball at 8-5 in the second, Atkinson again hit a drop so characteristic of her opponent - and now was 2/0 up.

But in what seemed like only moments later, Grinham had forged a 6-1 lead in the third, taking advantage of lapses of concentration in her Dutch opponent. A small recovery followed, but Grinham soon romped home 9-3 after only seven minutes.

The Queenslander was noticeably skipping more now, bouncing around the court with what appeared to be second wind. Atkinson was making her win rallies and trading punches all over the court so maybe the expectation that that Grinham would stroll home in five wouldn't be fulfilled. It would need some deep inner reserves from Atkinson - who then lost the fourth game to take the match into a fifth game decider.

Brought back to rousing applause from the captivated crowd, it was Atkinson who struck the early blows, going 4-1 up, floating the ball over Grinham and winning some exhilarating rallies. But even as the quality was maintained, Grinham crept back. Then after one of the many great rallies that brought the crowd to their feet, it was seven-all, then 8-7 and match-ball to Grinham!

After saving the match ball, Atkinson performed yet more court sprints to reach her own match ball which she ultimately claimed with a drive that was too deep and low for her opponent.

"It was a game of three halves," explained Atkinson later. "At the start of the third I hit a wall. I had no energy left and couldn't face the prospect of fighting back. But then I found some and tried to win the fourth but she was going too well. Then when I got ahead in the fifth I got another surge when I could see the end."

The victory brings Atkinson's WISPA title haul to 10 - five of which have been won this year!

RESULTS: Women's Brunei Squash International, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Final:
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 10-8, 9-5, 3-9, 2-9, 10-8 (76m)

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