Photos also by Kim Tunney: top, Natalie Grainger against Michelle Martin, bottom, Cassie Campion against Leilani Joyce
October 23, 1999
Michelle Martin is on a mission and she looks unstoppable in her pursuit to regain the Open Title staged at the Phil Smart Mercedes Benz Women's World Open Championships this weekend in Seattle. The 33-year old from Sydney casts the demeanor of a veteran warrior about to rout the remaining competition. Rumors circulate among the players that if she succeeds in her quest, she may announce her retirement.
Pakistan's ten time British Open Winner Jahangir Kahn sat front row center in a packed crowd at the Seattle Athletic Club. Khan serves as World Squash Federation vice president.
In the first game, a confidant Grainger hoped to "play my own game, get a good length, stay on my toes and be quick off the mark." The 22-year-old from Johannesburg, South Africa who recently purchased a four-bedroom home in Nottingham managed to earn 7 points off Martin with this strategy but could not close it out loosing 9-7.
In the second game, Martin now warmed up, started hitting the shots that make her world number one. Her forehand crackled as it met the front wall. The loose, sloppy squash exhibited in her five-game quarterfinal match against Carol Owen, vanished overnight. Repeatedly, Martin forced Grainger deep to the forehand side causing her to mistakenly feed forehand boasts to Martin who countered with an arsenal of backhand shots pulled from a repertoire of favorite winners. Grainger fell 9-0.
Working the silent crowd at four-all in the third game, Grainger turned and said, "Anyone wants to shout for me, they're welcomed to." This request prompted a smattering of applause and a glare from Martin. Grainger earned two more points off errors from Martin who held her to six points. The matched ended at 9-6 with a stroke awarded to Martin.
Post-match, Martin said she "wasn't tired from (the five game match) yesterday. I started down in the first game. I was crisper and I went on to dictate." Looking forward to tomorrow's final, she "feels good after today's match."
Grainger, who held her own with a cocky poise, was "happy with my strategy" and will no doubt find herself in the semis again. Assessing the outcome, Grainger explained that Martin is "a big girl. She can put herself in the way. I let her dominate too much."
Between semifinal matches, Martin and WISPA Chairman Linda Charman presented Heather McKay of Australia, winner of 16 British Open titles through the 60's and 70's with a trophy as part of an installation ceremony for the newly founded Women's International Squash Players Association Hall of Fame. Two other players, Susan Devoy, winner of 10 British Opens and WISPA founder Janet Shardlow, now deceased, were also nominated. The Hall of Fame will be maintained at WISPA's offices in London.
In the second match of the evening, Cassie Campion (England, No. 5), still sporting braces from an ankle injury sustained last season, made light work of Lelani Joyce (New Zealand, No. 3) winning 9-6, 9-3, 9-3. Campion's forehand drops cut nicely into the nick all night. After volleying deep, Cassie quickly played the ball short time and time again earning winners against her. She stung Joyce with several well-concealed backhand cross-court drops.
However disappointed in the loss, going into the match, Joyce realized that "it's going to be a tough, tough match. She's on form. She wants to get to the finals as much as I want to get to the finals. I'll have to take it point by point."
After her victory, Campion said she was "delighted to be in the finals. I haven't lost a game yet." She will spend the evening concentrating on the final and speak with her coach Dave Pearson about the pending match. English National Coach Pearson feels "Cassie is playing the best squash of her life. She's going in with good form."
So will Cassie Campion add an "h" to her last name to become the next Women's World Open champion? Or will Michelle Martin prevail in what may become her final World Open attempt? Spectators, coaches and players await the outcome of Sunday's final.
However disappointed in the loss, going into the match, Joyce realized that "it's going to be a tough, tough match. She's on form. She wants to get to the finals as much as I want to get to the finals. I'll have to take it point by point."