Vassar Class of 32 Squash Racquets Pro Tournament

Rachael Grinham Advances

The atmosphere for this first round of the main draw was tense and somewhat eerie. The Vassar College squash courts are enclosed in the old building of Kenyon Hall and the shots echo as they strike the walls. Up first was the Australian Rachael Grinham, a previous winner here, who was to face qualifier Amelia Pittock.

When the action cleared, at about dinnertime, all of the four seeds, Rachael Grinham, Natalie Grainger, Shelley Kitchen and Jenny Duncalf has pushed through to set up an interesting quarterfinals.

GRINHAM AGILE AND DECISIVE
In the opener, R Grinham (AUS) defeated Amelia Pittock 9-4, 7-9, 9-0, 9-0. Rachael Grinham, the number 3 seed in the world and the number 1 seed at this tournament, is agile and decisive. In the opening game both she and her opponent Amelia Pittock seemed to be sizing each other up and the strokes played were as smooth as silk. The differences in this first game were a few lovely drop shots from Grinham and a number of unforced errors that struck the tin from Pittock.

With the first game out of the way Pittock then produced a more consistent game and her drop shots were sublime. They put Grinham on the back foot and in a close game Pittock leveled the match at 1-1. The second game had seen both players attempt to impose their style and it was Pittock who prevailed.

As if stung by this setback Grinham showed why she is the number 1 seed and put everyone on notice that she has a shot for every situation. The pace was faster and the strokes deadly. Pittock was dispatched 9-0. In the fourth game Pittock never stopped chasing but she was being moved around the court and Grinham’s power and touch were just too good.

CHIU STOPS CANADIAN QUALIFIER

Number 5 seed Rebecca Chiu meant business right from the start and not only did she strike the ball well but she controlled the “T” throughout. Her superior positioning gave her time to fashion the shots she needed and Mullins was rarely in command. Having said that Mullins put up a very creditable fight. She worked hard to get to all the shots and in the first game had some measure of success. On this performance Chiu will be tough to beat in the later rounds.

Jenny Duncalf (ENG) defeated Louise Crome (NZL) 2-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-5.

New Zealander Louise Crome jumped out to a 7-1 lead employing a good tight length on her shots that forced some loose play from Jenny Duncalf. This allowed Crome to take the ball in the front court and with that advantage she was able to take the first game.

Duncalf, in what might have been an effort to regroup, forced some long rallies and both players hit impressive deep shots. Of the two Duncalf was the more consistent with the length of return and she edged ahead. Although Crome was covering all four corners of the court with grace and speed it was not enough and Duncalf tied matters up winning 9-2.

Duncalf kept up her consistent deep strokes and was relentless throughout winning game three convincingly 9-2. In the fourth game Crome battled as the match was on the line but once the game reached 5-5 she was unable to close it out and went down 9-5.

Nayelly Hernandez is a stylish composed player. Yesterday she upset the formbook by ousting the number 8 qualifier seed, but today's opponent Amelia Pittock was ready and not looking past this match.

Pittock's greater experience and some nervous unforced errors by Hernandez allowed the Australian to comfortably win the first game 9-2. The second game was much the same story and although Hernandez showed some fine shots, Pittocks's command of the center of the court enabled her to maintain her grip on the match and she prevailed by the same score.

Pittock, now well into her stride, quickly closed the third game 9-0, but this score doesn't do justice to the excellent rallies, a credit to both players.

Line Hansen (DEN) defeated # 7 seed Sharon Wee (MAS) 6-9, 9-4, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7.

The rallies in this match would have challenged even the most accomplished mathematician. Angles of incidence may have been equal to the angles of refraction but in any event the shots were consistently returned. It made for an absorbing match. Sharon Wee, the number 7 seed, was sharp about the court while Line Hansen used her long reach to good effect. Hansen recovered from the first game losses to take 2 in a row and that set up a very hotly disputed fourth game. Hansen fell behind but came back to 5-5 and there followed a number of let calls as the players battled for position. In the end Wee was able to cut off more shots at the "T" and won 9-5 to take the match to a fifth and final game.No quarter was asked and none given as rallies were fast and furious. After being down 4-8, Wee made a comeback to 7-8 as a result of numerous lets and the obvious frustration of Hansen. Hansen was, in the end, triumphant due to her patience, extremely tight drops shots and her ability to move Wee about the court.

# 6 seed Kasey Brown (AUS) defeated Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-4, 9-3, 9-5.
Both players started off patiently, exchanging shot for shot in a series of long rallies ending with let calls. Brown managed to find her length and take an early lead at 4-1. Not to be outdone, Manetta came back with a series of forehand overheads and well-placed nicks evening out the score at 4-all. However, Brown's defense and quick feet kept her ahead and she managed to pull away to 9-4 in the first game.

The second game started off with an equally intense series of rallies, holding at 0-1, Brown, for nearly twelve minutes! Though Manetta played more aggressively, Brown seemed to anticipate every shot and slowly made her way to 5-1. The rallies to follow consisted of a sequence of attacking drops, volley drops, and lobs with a few spectacular nicks from Manetta. Brown held her ground and eventually prevailed at 9-3.Down 0-3 in the third, Manetta refused to give up and ran down every attacking shot Brown had to offer. Her increased physical game seemed to be working as she pushed her way to 2-4 and then 4-5. Brown remained focused and played consistent squash. She made good use of all corners of the court. A number of tight backhand drives along the wall eventually forced a few critical errors from Manetta, giving Brown the win at 9-5 for the match.

# 4 seed Shelley Kitchen (NZL) defeated Laura Hill (ENG) 9-0, 9-5, 9-2.
The hard-hitting Kiwi took an early lead to 6-0 in the first game. Hill fought back and managed to take the serve for several rallies but was unable to score. Kitchen's powerful crosscourt drives pushed Hill deep into the back corners and ultimately proved to be too much, giving Kitchen the game at 9-0.

Hill, down 0-2 in the second game, regained her composure and fought back to 2-2 by forcing several loose balls from Kitchen and playing a brilliantly deceptive trickle boast into the front left corner. Seemingly more confident, Hill took control of her service rallies and was able to move Kitchen around the court. The players traded point for point up to a tight 6-5 score with Kitchen leading. The New Zealander deftly placing the next few balls just out of reach of Hill's racquet and continued to move ahead, taking the game 9-5.

Game three proved to be the most physical of the match, each player running the full length of the court several times within each rally. A flurry of volleys, boasts, and cross-courts just millimeters above the tin had the players evenly matched until Kitchen managed to open the gap at 3-2. Kitchen continued to pull ahead, moving Hill diagonally cross-court with several well-executed sequences of deep lobs, tight drops, and penetrating drives. Hill managed to force a few loose shots from Kitchen but was ultimately unable to hold her off, losing the match at 9-2 in the third game.

# 8 seed Latasha Khan (USA) defeated Lauren Siddall (ENG) 6-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-2.
Both players pressured each other with an onslaught of attacking shots, rarely allowing the ball to reach the glass back wall. The points were intense and the quick pace resulted in some mid-court traffic and a few strokes. At 6-4 Siddall, the players exchanged service at least seven times before Khan finally managed to outshoot her opponent and tie at 6-6. Siddall was quick to reply by further increasing the pace and taking the last three points to win the game 9-6.

Incredibly, the tremendous efforts of the first game were evident in the second! The players traded service and at 2-1 Khan for several rallies, then Siddall produced a seemingly impossible double boast from the rear-right corner of the court and it was 2-2. Khan executed a series of tight drops and precision nicks in the front-right corner and slowly pulled ahead to take the second game 9-2.

Khan was able to carry over her momentum into the third game and took a decisive lead, first to 2-0 and then to 8-1. Through several heated rallies along the side walls and a number of well-placed drops, Siddall took control and worked her way up to take back two more points. Khan's precise shot making ultimately prevailed and she came out on top at 9-3.

As if Khan's performance wasn't impressively clinical enough in the third game, the fourth proved all the more spectacular to watch. Her length was solid and Khan, seemingly effortlessly, was able to find every nick on the court, quickly taking the lead at 6-0. Though behind by six points, Siddall maintained a positive spirit and imposed some tight shot making of her own. Siddall put forth her best effort and earned herself a well-deserved two points before falling to Kahn 9-2.

# 2 seed Natalie Grainger (USA) defeated Tricia Chuah (MAS) 9-3, 9-3, 9-1.
Natalie Grainger came out firing, mixing in some beautiful angles with her solid length, but Chuah's frontcourt touch was undeniable and she quickly advanced to 3-0. Grainger seemed to loosen up and find her length again before skillfully imposing her hard-driven attacking game to take control of the "T" and dictate the points to win 9-3.

After a 3-1 lead by Grainger, Chuah diffused the pressure with more touch shots to the front of the court. However, Grainger was unrelenting and continued to pressure her opponent with hard drives to the back and delicate drops to the front. She seemed to find her stride and powered her way to a decisive 9-1 win.

The former Vassar Tournament winner Grainger remained strong in the third game and dictated nearly all of the rallies save for the occasional error. She stood confidently over the "T" and worked Chuah all around the court to 7-0. Though on the defensive, Chuah found a few angles and forced some loose shots from Grainger on the backhand side. Chuah managed to hold off Grainger at 7-1 for several service exchanges but, ultimately, Grainger proved to be more consistent and took the match 9-1 in the third game.

VASSAR CLASS OF '32 WISPA OPEN, Poughkeepsie, NY MAIN DRAW

RESULTS
First Round:

[1] seed Rachael Grinham (AUS) def Amelia Pittock (AUS) 9-4 7-9 9-0 9-0
[5] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) def Tara Mullins (CAN) 9-6 9-1 9-2
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) def Louise Crome (NZL) 2-9 9-2 9-2 9-5
Line Hansen (DEN) def [7] Sharon Wee (MAS) 6-9 9-4 9-7 5-9 9-7
[6] Kasey Brown (AUS) def Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-4 9-3 9-5
[4] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) def Laura Hill (ENG) 9-0 9-5 9-2
[8] Latasha Khan (USA) def Lauren Siddall (ENG) 6-9 9-2 9-3 9-2
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) def Tricia Chuah (MAS) 9-3 9-3 9-1

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