Meets Jackman in Sunday Final  [Grand Prix complete results]

Natalie (foreground) beats her sister Rachael in Qatar Semis (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

RESULTS: Women's World Grand Prix Finals, Doha, QatarNatalie Grinham To Face Jackman In GP Final

Australia's Natalie Grinham secured only her second ever victory over her higher-ranked older sister Rachael Grinham to claim her first appearance in the final of the Women's World Grand Prix Finals at the Khalifa International Squash Complex in the Qatar capital Doha - where her opponent will be England's world No1 and favourite Cassie Jackman.

Grinham junior, from Toowoomba in Queensland but now based in the Netherlands, beat second-seeded Rachael 10-8 9-5 9-3 in 47 minutes while Jackman, from Norfolk, swept to a 9-4 9-3 9-1 victory in just 32 minutes over compatriot Rebecca Macree, the seventh seed who was making her debut in the event's last four.

Macree had yet to beat her semi-final opponent, and was unable to end that sequence on the all-glass court in Doha. The match started as it would continue, with Jackman taking the ball early, hitting it with venom while Macree attempted to impose herself with floating lobs amid her opponent's drives.

Jackman had the measure of Macree in Qatar (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

Both had success, but Jackman did so more often and sped to a 6-1 lead in the first before eventually prevailing 9-4. The second was the same story with an early lead for Jackman, some obdurate resistance from her opponent and a similar outcome.

There was no lapse of Jackman concentration in the third, with Macree able only to dent rather than penetrate the Jackman defences.

Jackman was now in the semi final for second time, having lost to Carol Owens in 2000.

"I'm the happiest I've been for a very long time; and that is reflected in my squash," said Jackman afterwards.

The second semi-final featured the two high performing Grinham sisters.

When arguably the two fastest players on the WISPA Tour play each other, a scurry bonanza was inevitable. Both players have a full repertoire of shots and produced an all-action encounter much to the delight of the crowd.

Elder sister Rachael served for the first game at 8-5, only to be on the receiving end of a flurry of winners from Natalie that took her to game ball herself at 9-8. Grinham senior saved it with a lucky half court volley nick, then saved another with a forehand drop volley leaving Natalie to berate herself, exclaiming "you know she does that!" - but she was not to be denied a third time.

The second game followed the pattern of the first - serious, with only the occasional wry smile after a point victory or defeat breaking the focussed mode. Rachael was showing signs of nervousness while Natalie was more relaxed, somehow retrieving lost causes to maintain pressure. This time it was Natalie who reached game ball at 8-5, but missed the chance when she hit a drop back at herself, causing the referee to rule for the only time in the first 35 minutes of the match! A rally later and a perfect cross court lob couldn't be scraped back by Rachael and the second game was taken too.

Natalie (right ) with her sister Rachael off court in Qatar (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

As the third game took shape Rachael was making more mistakes and faced match-ball at 8-3. A snatched overhead into the tin saved her, but her own missed stretch gave Natalie her second match ball which she hungrily converted with an unreachable reverse angle.

The pair hugged on court but had different facial expressions when they exited it.

Afterwards, the Cairo-based Rachael said: "She's just another player - it's not easier or harder to play my sister. Because we are based in different places so we don't play that much so I don't know what to expect."

Natalie, now in the biggest final of her career, took a different line. "It is definitely harder emotionally. You feel for her, poor girl, she's losing!"

Asked about the prospect of playing Jackman - to whom she lost in four games in the qualifying rounds - Natalie was very upbeat: "I have taken her very close recently and I'm ready!"

Semi-finals:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [7] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 9-4, 9-3, 9-1 (32m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 10-8, 9-5, 9-3 (47m)

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