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Top Four Better Than the Rest

The women's Grand Prix Finals got underway today in Doha, ostensibly showcasing the top eight women in the world. Trouble is, everyone knows that Natalie Pohrer has been playing top-four form for the past four months, trouncing everyone not called Sarah in the process. But she couldn't come to the party because the point system is weighted toward events taking place while she was off tour. Same story for Tania Bailey, the British Open finalist who is coming off an injury sojourn and doesn't have the ranking points.

Both Bailey and Pohrer could challenge Owens and Fitz-Gerald on any given day. Not so Brind, who's game isn't mature enough yet, Horner, who doesn't have the speed or stamina any more, or Geaves, who hasn't been hot lately.

Today in round one, the top four, Campion, Owens, Fitz-Gerald and Charman-Smith, showed how much better they are than the next four. The only match going longer than thirty minutes was Rachael Grinhman against Cassie Campion. That match was a disappointment, as Grinham is strong enough to give Campion a serious challenge. Maybe the intensity of the just-completed doubles event in Manchester, in which Grinham played much much squash, took too much out of Rachael for today.

Now, unless Grinham can muster up a miracle in her pool match with Carol Owens, there's no more suspense until the semi-finals, when we're likely to see Owens against Charman-Smith in a very interesting matchup and Fitz-Gerald against Campion. Until then, the top four will be in warm-up mode.

WISPA Grand Prix Finals - Day One (Wed April 24)

Cassie Campion def Rachael Grinham 9-3, 9-0, 9-7 35m
Carol Owens def Fiona Geaves 9-1, 9-1, 9-3 24 m
Sarah Fitz-Gerald def Stephanie Brind 9-0, 9-4, 9-1 25m
Linda Charman-Smith def Suzanne Horner 9-3, 9-1, 9-0 25m

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