Ross advances on Berden Injury
May 21 2004, SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004
[ Dutch Open WISPA Draw ]   [Dutch Open PSA Draw] 

Netherlands' top squasher, Vanessa Atkinson, who also hails from the host club, advanced easily to tomorrows semi-finals of the Dutch Open 2004 in The Hague, being marketed locally as "The Hague Squash Days" (or Haagsche squash dagen).

Isabelle Stoehr battled Natalie Grinham evenly for one game in the quarters. photo © 2004 Haagsche Squashdagen

Atkinson was much too strong for America's top player, Latasha Khan, despite Khan's solid recent results and her increased level of fitness. Atkinson prevailed in 20 minutes.

Atkinson advances to meet Holland-based Australian, Natalie Grinham. Grinham defeated Isabelle Stoehr, the young French pro. Grinham and Stoehr played evenly toe-to-toe throughout much of the first game, but after Grinham took the first 9-7, Stoehr surrendered, and Grinham closed it out 9-2 and 9-4.

The other Dutch player in the women's draw, Annelize Naude, put up stiff resistance to England's world #6, Linda Charman. Naude was able to grab the third game, at which point Charman closed the door, closing out the match 9-0 in the fourth game.

On the men's side, it was a big disappointment to the Dutch fans when their #1, Tommy Berden, was forced to withdraw from his quarter final match at the Dutch Open 2004. Berden suffered a hamstring and knee injury during his first round win over Andrew Whipp. Due to his withdrawal Stacey Ross was the first person to make it into the semi finals.

Cassie Jackman ousted Pakistan's Carla Khan   photo © 2004 Haagsche Squashdagen

But the Dutch fans did get some joy. The Hague's Laurens Jan Anjema scored a strong win over Irish pro Liam Kenny. The first game of their contest was extremely even and long. When Anjema scored the final point, 15-14, he had the momentum and ran out the match 15-9, 15-9 with strong fan support.

Gavin Jones scored a 3-0 win over Alex Stait while top seed from Italy, Davide Bianchetti, rode over Raj Nanda 3-0 as well.

Dutch Open Quarterfinals
Men [complete results]
[1] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [Q] Raj Nanda (AUS) 15-7, 15-6, 15-6
[4] Gavin Jones (WAL) bt [6] Alex Stait (ENG) 15-3, 15-6, 15-11
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Liam Kenny (IRL) 15-14, 15-9, 15-9
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt [2] Tommy Berden (NED) w/o

Women [complete results]
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [7] Carla Khan (PAK) 9-1, 9-3, 9-3
[4] Linda Charman (ENG) bt [8] Annelize Naude (NED) 9-1, 9-4, 7-9, 9-0
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 9-7, 9-2, 9-4
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [6] Latasha Khan (USA) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2

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