Cassie Jackman Lifts the Grand Prix Title  [Grand Prix complete results]

Cassie Jackman beats Natalie Grinham in the Grand Prix Finals (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

World #1, Cassie Jackman, often berated in the English press for her near misses in big matches, won the big one in Qatar Sunday. She lifted her first Women's Grand Prix Title, following six years of dominance by Carol Owens, Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Michelle Martin, all now retired.

Does the squash world now look forward to its own version of a Serena/Venus sister act? Natalie Grinham certainly made it seem that way as she battled Jackman toe to toe down to the wire. Natalie, the younger sister of the Rachael-Natalie Grinhams sister duo, has been playing second fiddle, but a very close one, to her older sister Rachael. Both hail from Australia, but while Rachael is based in Cairo, Natalie makes her base in Amserdam. Natalie staked a claim Saturday, after she beat sister Rachael in the semis and then served notice in the finals that she was every bit the equal of the top woman in the World, Cassie Jackman. Rachael has scored several recent wins over Cassie, including winning last June's British Open 2003.

The climax of the Women's World Grand Prix Finals at the Khalifa International Squash Complex in the Qatar capital Doha produced an epic battle befitting the flagship event on the WISPA World Tour - in which England's top seed Cassie Jackman needed 84 minutes to overcome surprise opponent Natalie Grinham, of Australia, in five games to lift the title for the first time.

Cassie Jackman beats Natalie Grinham in the Grand Prix Finals (photo © 2004 Fritz Borchert)

The two finalists entered to the strains of 'Simply The Best', but only one had actually proved it. Jackman is the current world number one, though had never won this title before, whilst the younger of the two Grinham sisters is a pretender to her crown, and recently came close to beating the Englishwoman - notably squandering a match ball at this month's Texas Open - so aspires to the accolade.

The first game started with nervous tins from Grinham before settling into a pattern featuring Jackman's heavy hitting and deft drops and the Australian's blend of attacking boasts and drops, and breathtaking retrieving. Grinham reached game ball at 8-7 and took it first time with a fading cross court drop that she herself couldn't have hoped to reach.

Jackman clearly decided that a more conservative approach was required in the next game and this paid dividends as she pinned down her opponent who was continuing to cause gasps from the spectators with her athletic scurrying, but was losing points as she was eventually dragged too far out of position. After 25 minutes the scores were level.

The third game was just as gripping as the first two. Grinham edged ahead and twice served for the game at 8-6. The Englishwoman saved both game balls and clawed back to eight-all, but then lost serve. Grinham then totally wrong-footed her with a wristy flick to get to 9-8, but squandered this third opportunity when Jackman sent her the wrong way with an identical flick at the end of the very next rally. Finally, at nine-all, Grinham sent a weak service return into the tin and Jackman was finally ahead in the match.

Supported between games by sister Rachael, whom she had beaten the night before, Natalie showed no sign of caving in after this setback. Indeed she regularly forced Jackman out of position and, after 67 minutes of play, the match drew level.

Returning for the fifth, both players were spontaneously given a standing ovation by a large crowd which was totally wrapped up in the battle. Surely now exhaustion would take hold for one or both; not so, as the rallies continued to be superlative all-court battles, with the pair matching each other point for point.

After more extended exchanges, Jackman stood on the brink at 8-6 and managed to secure the title with a straight drive at the end of another huge rally. The crowd erupted and the favourite from Norfolk looked mightily relieved after her memorable 7-9 9-2 10-9 3-9 9-6 victory.

With her 26th WISPA World Tour title under her belt, Jackman said later: "I seemed to have played her a lot recently and it's getting harder and harder. I went through stages of feeling good, then not quite so good, but fortunately I felt strong in the fifth."

Grinham, who was two points away from a 3/0 defeat to England's Linda Charman in the qualifiers, was philosophical in defeat. The 26-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland, now based in the Netherlands, said: "I'm not as disappointed as I should be. I was really happy with the way I played and couldn't have done much more."

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

Final:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 7-9, 9-2, 10-9, 3-9, 9-6 (84m)

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