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Quarterfinals
Natalie Grinham Celebrates Sibling Success
By Howard Harding © 2003 SquashTalk; all rights of reproduction reserved.
March 28, 2003  [Full draw]

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Natalie Grinham (front) and Rachael Grinham ©2003 Debra Tessier

"I've waited 25 years for this win," said the ecstatic world No9 from Toowoomba in Queensland after her 9-6 9-3 9-1 upset over fourth-seeded Rachael, ranked four places higher in the world. "I've never beaten her at any level before," added Natalie after the 49-minute rout.

Natalie, unseeded, was in control from the start, combining more patience with her tremendous pace around the court. The 25-year-old, based in the Netherlands, scuttled around picking up Rachael's short shots, either returning them with interest at the front or floating the ball into the diagonal back corner.

The younger Grinham has begun to believe in herself more over the last six months and this confidence is translating itself into results - including her first ever WISPA World Tour title wins in New York and Connecticut in January.

Natalie will face top-seeded Carol Owens in her first Grand Prix semi-final. The world No1 from New Zealand comfortably overcame England's 8th seed Rebecca Macree 9-2 9-2 9-4 in 46 minutes.

Natalie Pohrer(left) and Cassie Jackman ©2003 Debra Tessier

Charman has not been well for the past few days and taking antibiotics. "As we got into the second, all my energy just disappeared," said the world No3 from Eastbourne in Sussex afterwards.

"I knew she wasn't 100% so I was nervous. In fact I was so nervous I was shaking," added Atkinson after recording her first victory over England's highest-ranked player.

The quarter-final session on the all-glass court erected on the atrium ice rink in the Plaza of the Americas in downtown Dallas ended in a close-fought battle between the USA's No2 seed Natalie Pohrer and England's 7th seed Cassie Jackman which went the full distance.

The ascendancy changed several times as first one then the other would hit a hot spell. Pohrer eventually prevailed 9-7 3-9 10-8 3-9 9-6 in 64 minutes to reach her sixth successive WISPA semi-final.

"I knew that I needed to get a good start in the fifth as Cassie was dominating the court, so I tried to bottle her up at the back more," explained the 25-year-old from St Louis afterwards.

RESULTS: Women's Texas Open Squash Championship, Dallas, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Carol Owens (NZL) bt [8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 9-2, 9-2, 9-4 (46m)
Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [4] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-6, 9-3, 9-1 (49m)
[5] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [3] Linda Charman (ENG) 1-9, 10-8, 9-2, 9-0
(40m)
[2] Natalie Pohrer (USA) bt [7] Cassie Jackman (ENG) 9-7, 3-9, 10-8, 3-9,
9-6 (64m)

Carol Owens(front) and Rebecca Macree ©2003 Debra Tessier	Linda Charman(left) and Vanessa Atkinson ©2003 Debra Tessier

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