Macree Surprise Semi Finalist   [Grand Prix complete results]

Natalie Grinham knock Linda Charman out of the semis (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

Australia's fourth seed Natalie Grinham claimed the final place in the last four knockout stages of the Women's World Grand Prix Finals - but had to fight back from two games down to overcome England's Linda Charman, the fifth seed, in the final qualifying round at the Khalifa International Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar.

The winner of the match would play second seed Rachael Grinham in the semi-finals, with the loser eliminated. But it hardly looked as if a sisterly battle was on the cards when Charman took the first two games and reached 7-4 up in the third.

"Come on, this is terrible. Pick it up," the Australian cried. Spring-loaded to give her superlative court coverage, the younger Grinham is a fighter - and did just that. With a combination of her own intent, and slightly ebbing confidence from Charman, Grinham junior stole the third and then ran away with the fourth to level the match.

The rallies were getting longer in the decider, the score going up in small steps and five-all was reached before Grinham edged ahead, aided by some sweet lobs and effective drops. The match ended with a forehand drop that left Charman flailing, the score at 6-9 2-9 9-7 9-0 9-5 and the time just one minute short of an hour.

Charman had been two points from the semis and was now out of the event - though she was marginally less disconsolate than might have been expected as she explained that she was coming back after the back injury that had sidelined her from the Irish Open and was not yet fully match fit.

Grinham meanwhile had set up another "Toowoomba Twosome" battle. When asked what went through her head at two games and 4-7 down she explained: "I haven't been playing well recently so I thought I would run my little backside off, treat it like a training session and not worry about the outcome."

FOREGONE CONCLUSION

Rachael Grinham (foreground) set up a match with her sister (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

Cassie Jackman was already assured of top spot in the group before starting the other match in Pool A, so the main focus of interest in her encounter with English compatriot Tania Bailey related to the extent of Bailey's return to fitness after a catalogue of health problems. Bailey had played a 64-minute match the previous day to prove a great deal to herself, and after a slightly creaky start Bailey did find a more solid rhythm and rallied strongly against the world No1 from Norfolk.

However, Jackman was despatching anything loose with disdain and Bailey's error ratio was a little too high to have any chance against her top-seeded opponent.

The match went Jackman's way 9-2 9-4 9-3 in 30 minutes, but it had been a satisfying week for the eliminated eighth seed Bailey. "I've been training for six weeks now but getting into these matches is different. I was thrilled with my performance yesterday and I'm getting sharper with every match," she said.

The winner of the next match between Rachael Grinham and England's Rebecca Macree would avoid a semi against Jackman, so there was a lot to play for between two players already guaranteed last four places. Macree was keen to continue to reinforce her view that her non-selection into the England squad for the European Team Championships next week was inexplicable.

She started brightly enough against the world number two, but having established an early lead, was slowly reeled in by the nimble Australian who eventually took control. Macree seemingly became resigned to her fate during the second for, while she rallied cleanly, the edge was not there and a semi final against Jackman would be her next match.

"My aim had been to get to the top four," said Macree after Grinham's 9-5 9-0 9-2 win in 36 minutes. "But I give myself a chance of reaching the final," she added.

In the consolation match for lower berths in Pool B, England's Fiona Geaves beat third seed Vanessa Atkinson, the Irish Open champion from the Netherlands, 9-8 5-9 9-3 9-5 to register her first win and avoid the wooden spoon.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v [7] Rebecca Macree (ENG)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [4] Natalie Grinham (AUS)

RESULTS: Women's World Grand Prix Finals, Doha, Qatar

Final qualifying round:
Pool A:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [8] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-2, 9-4, 9-3 (30m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Linda Charman (ENG) 6-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-0, 9-5 (59m)
Final placings: 1 Jackman, 2 N Grinham, 3 Charman, 4 Bailey
Pool B:
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 9-5, 9-0, 9-2 (36m)
[6] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-8, 5-9, 9-3, 9-5 (38m)
Final placings: 1 R Grinham, 2 Macree, 3 Geaves, 4 Atkinson

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