Top Two Ease into Cleveland Semis

Omneya Abdel Kawy was outplayed by Laura Lengthorn Massaro. Photo: ©2009 Ham Biggar

Rachael Grinham and Natalie Gainger both moved one step closer to a potential final show down on Monday night at the Cleveland Racquet Club in Ohio, USA. Natalie continued the defense of her title with a convincing performance against world number 15 Rebecca Chiu from Hong Kong. Natalie took early leads in every game and never really looked threatened throughout the match despite some determined retrieving from the 2002 Asian Games gold medalist.

Rachael’s place in the semi finals was made easier than it might have been had her opponent Tania Bailey been able to chase balls down as she had the night before against Madeline Perry.  Unfortunately for Tania and the Cleveland gallery a strain which occurred during the match the night before never loosened and Tania’s body language suggested a tough fight was not going to be on the cards.

Rachael’s opponent on Tuesday night will be Alison Walters who defeated New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes in three straight games. This may not have been a huge surprise after the grueling 101 minute match that Jaclyn faced last night. Alison was always just a step ahead at the start of each game and in the first two Jaclyn was unable to mount that resilient a comeback. In the third however at 9-5 down Jaclyn started chasing balls down in a last desperate bid to keep her tournament alive which pressured Alison into a couple of errors which hadn’t been occurring during the rest of the match. So effective was the charge that Jaclyn found herself at 10-9 game ball with a loose forehand waiting to be killed and kill it she did, but unfortunately not above the tin and that was to be the end of the last stand.

Rachael Grinham eased into the semis. Photo: ©2009 Ham Biggar

In the most anticipated game of the night world number 7 Omneya Abdel Kawy was up against Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, just one place below the Egyptian in both seeding and world ranking. Laura started much the stronger of the two with her accurate placement of the ball restricting the flair from her opponent’s racquet. Omneya came out looking like a different player though in the second game taking a commanding three point lead before a couple of quick errors allowed Laura back into the match. She got back on track though and displayed some great attacking play, using holds and fakes to open up the court and level the match. The start of the third was to be the pivotal point of the match and a couple of tough rallies won by Laura seemed to take the penetration out of Omneya’s game. Errors crept in with more frequency as Laura maintained good width and depth with the ball, taking the opening when it arose with some tidy holds of her own to end the points. Facing a 1-2 game deficit, Omneya didn’t really look like she wanted to take up the fight and submitted without too much resistance in the fourth. The victory for Laura sets up an exciting semi final clash with Natalie Grainger which will be surely the defending champions’ sternest test in the three years she has been playing the event in Cleveland.

While the quarter final matches were taking place the first round losers were trying their hand in a Pro-Am hardball doubles event. Engy Kheirallah with partner Rachel Leizman won the Ladies doubles and Sarah Kippax partnered Mike Shaughnessy of tournament sponsor ColorMatrix to victory in the mixed doubles.

RESULTS:               Women's Burning River Open, Cleveland, OH, USA    [view Draw/results]

Rachael Grinham (AUS)                beat    Tania Bailey (ENG)      11-5, 11-5, 11-8                    
Alison Waters (ENG)                      beat   Jaclyn Hawkes  (NZL)   11-6, 11-8, 13-11
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)beat   Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4
Natalie Grainger  (USA)                 beat   Rebecca Chiu (HKG)     11-2, 11-8, 11-8

 

 

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