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16-Aug,
Finals:
[2] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [1] Natalie Grainger (USA)
11/9, 11/5 11/8 (28m)
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [2] Martin Knight (NZL)
12/10, 11/5 10/12, 11/7
(79m)
Grinham grabs gold at Bayfair
Ian Hepenstall reports
World No 3 Natalie Grinham gained her first gold star
victory of the year with a straight-games win over top seed
Natalie Grainger in a dominant display, while No 3
seed Campbell Grayson edged out his training partner Martin
Knight in an all-kiwi final of the New Zealand Men’s Classic
at Bayfair in Mt Maunganui.
Grinham, the Australian-born, Netherlands-based player,
finished a successful four-event tour with a superb display
over Grainger, her eighth win from 17 head-to-head clashes
with the South African-born American citizen.
The diminutive Grinham never let Grainger into the game,
showing lots of deft touches at the front of the court and
using her sublime speed around the court to good effect.
 "At
the beginning of the year I was quite sick to get back
really fit and to win a gold star event is just great.
“The plan was to move Natalie around today. She loves to
dominate the centre of the court although she did put a few
balls down today. I tried to keep it away from her volley. I
was hitting my drops well again today and overall I am
really happy with my game.
“All the girls are happy with this event. We have had a
great week and been looked after so well. To come out and
win is the icing on the cake for me.
“I wish Nicol [David] had come here actually. I want to keep
having another go at her until I get her. It’s nice to win a
tournament but I kind of wish she was here.”
Grinham will bypass the
British Open and return to the Netherlands to prepare for
the world championships later in the year, where she hopes
to come up against world No 1 Nicol David who beat her in
two finals in Asia before New Zealand.
Grainger, in her first tournament back since May, said she
was unable to get into the match today.
“She just
never let me into the match. I made some mistakes early and
tried really hard but could not get going. I thought if I
could get one game I might be able to put some pressure on.
“She has come off three good tournament results and I am
just coming back to the game. Natalie was really far too
good for me today. I am disappointed obviously but pleased
with my progress after a layoff.”
Both Grainger and Grinham
said they plan to return next year to the A1 Homes New
Zealand Open.
Earlier Grayson impressed with his effort in beating Knight
12-10 11-5 10-12 11-7 in a 79 minute battle.
Grayson win s all-NZ men's final
It was a top performance from the 23 year old who had to dig
deep after a five-game quarterfinal victory and four-game
win over top seek Kashif Shuja in the semifinal.
“I felt really good at the start but as the match wore on it
got tougher. He is such a good receiver and I missed match
ball in the third, and felt really tired,” Grayson said.
“I just got through on adrenalin. I’ve worked so hard in the
last four months on my fitness and got a second win and came
through with the win.”
Grayson said the pair, who train together and will travel to
Europe together tomorrow night , always have tough battles.
“We are good friends and we know each other so well. But
when you step on to the court you are another rival really.
When you have played eachother so many times, it feels like
normal now.”
He was thrilled with what he believes is his best career
performance for the world no 57.
“This is the best tournament I have ever played in. I am so
happy to win it. This tournament is just so amazing. The
atmosphere here, the court, having your friends and family
here is just so awesome.
“Martin and I are both travelling away for three months
based in Cardiff. I am confident we can push our world
rankings up. This is a good way to start. I am in good form
and I am fit so it’s exciting.”
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Devoy sees bright future
Four time world champion Dame Susan Devoy believes
the successful revamped A1 Homes New Zealand Open can form a
crucial part of the sport’s future in this country.
It is the first time in 16 years that the New Zealand Open
has been staged with the NZ$82,000 women’s event carrying
gold star world tour status.
Devoy said she was delighted to play a role in
re-establishing the event which she won eight times in her
illustrious career.
“The New Zealand Open was a really important part of my
squash career. I spent most of the year travelling overseas
and it was a great chance to play at home.
“The men’s and women’s tournament this week on the glass
court here at Bayfair coupled with attracting the world’s
best players down here is great for the profile of the game
in this country. It shows out young players where they need
to get to, and it’s been a real boost for the likes of
Joelle King and Shelley Kitchen who have played so well this
week.”
www.nzsquashopen.co.nz
Shelley Expecting
World number 10 Shelley Kitchen will take a break
from the game after announcing that she and long time
partner Anthony Ricketts are expecting their first child.
Australian Ricketts, a winner of the British Open and former
world number three, is the current Squash New Zealand head
coach.
Kitchen said she hopes to make a return to the sport after
the birth of the child next February, with the intention of
competing in the Commonwealth Games next year in New Delhi.
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All-Kiwi
men's final
The final of the one-star New Zealand Men’s Classic is an
all-kiwi affair with second seed Martin Knight taking on
Auckland’s Campbell Grayson, who upset No 1 seed and New
Zealand champion Kashif Shuja.
Grayson edged out Shuja in a 65 minute battle, to continue
their rivalry with the pair training together on a regular
basis.
“Over the last six years we have trained and played together
untold times. We know each other pretty well,” Grayson said.
“I have only beaten him five times and I’ve lost count how
many times he has won. But I have managed to beat him each
time we’ve played this year.
“That’s the first time I have beaten him in a PSA event.
That was a big win for me. It’s probably my best
performance. I had a really tough match yesterday and so I
am happy to back up from that. “
Earlier Knight, the Wellington-born, Auckland-based player,
accounted for Australia’s Matthew Karwalski in straight
games. |
15-Aug, Semis:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) beat Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
11-8 11-5
11-9.
[2] Natalie Grinham (NED) beat [7] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
11-9
11-2 11-7
[2] Martin Knight (NZL) beat [4] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
11-7
11-8 13-11.
[3] Campbell Grayson (NZL) beat Kashif Shuja (NZL)
13-11
8-11 11-4 11-8
Grinham ends Kitchen's run
World No 2 Natalie Grinham has ended the fairytale
run of Shelley Kitchen to win her way through to the final
of the A1 Homes New Zealand Open at Mt Maunganui today.
Top seed and world number two, Natalie Grainger will
meet the world number three, Grinham in tomorrow’s final of
the Gold Star WISPA event, the first time the New Zealand
Open has been contested since 1993.
Grinham was too fast and too strong for Kitchen winning in
straight games after Grainger earlier won her semi in three
games over Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy.
It was the best career performance from Kitchen in what was
only her second semifinal in a WISPA Gold Star event. Her
performances should see her rise in the world rankings.
 "I
went all-out in that first game and I was quite disappointed
not to win that one. A couple of mistakes late in that game
proved really costly. If I had been able to nail that one I
think the match would have turned out differently.
"She came back really firing and my length was off and I
tried to pick things up in the third but that is why she is
currently one of the best in the world. She is so fast so
whatever I tried to do she was able to cover it with her
speed.
"I just wanted to play well in this event and to make the
semis here at home is fantastic. It’s been the best week
ever for squash in New Zealand during my time in the sport.
The profile in the media has been great, the support from
the fans and the opportunity for our players has been just
awesome.
"Here’s hoping that all the sponsors have done well and this
can continue and build from here in the future."
Grinham, in her third Gold
Star final in four weeks tomorrow, was pleased with her form
today.
 "I
thought I played really well. After I hit the first four
balls down I started to find my range and chopped some nice
short balls from the back. It seemed to be working and I
stuck with it.
“The fans were definitely getting in behind Shelley but you
just try to block it out and play as good as you can.
"I did not hit many errors which was pleasing. Hopefully I
can play well again tomorrow and push through for a victory.
I’ll be trying my best."
Earlier Grainger found her
best form in dominating Kawy, in her first tournament for
more than two months.
 "I
felt quite sharp today. It was really good. I am making
progress this week. Omneya and I have similar styles so
today was always going to be sort sharp rallies. My focus
was a lot better today and I stayed focussed right to the
end.
"I am really pleased to be in the final. I haven’t had a
tournament since May so I am looking forward to it. It’s
going to be a huge battle."
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14-Aug, Quarters:
Shelley storms into Semis
Ian Hepenstall reports
New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen produced a stunning
performance to claim a place in tomorrow’s semi-finals of
the A1 Homes New Zealand Open at Mt Maunganui.
She upset England's world number five Jenny Duncalf in
a thrilling five gamer 4-11 15-13 11-8 4-11 11-7 on the
glass court at Bayfair.
It is the first time that the world number 10 has qualified
for a semi-final of a gold star world event since the Carol
Weymeyer Open in 2007 and is the biggest event that she has
made the final four.
The hard-earned victory was Kitchen’s first over Duncalf in
five meetings over the last two years.
The Englishwoman started fast winning the first game with
ease after a 6-0 lead. Kitchen led 8-5 in the second before
Duncalf edged to match ball at 10-8. The kiwi dug deep to
level the scores and stave off four match balls before
claiming the game 15-13. While Kitchen dominated the third,
Duncalf was much too strong in the fourth.
The final game saw Duncalf ahead 6-5 before a crucial run
gave Kitchen the lead 9-6 and she finished the match with
two deft winners.
"That
was so pleasing. I really wanted to play well tonight in
front of all the people who have made this tournament
possible in New Zealand. To make a semi-final at a gold star
event is great. I am really thrilled.
"I had to dig deep after she made such a fast start. She
never let me into the match, broke things up and turned me
around. But as we got into the match I found my length. I
really think the glass court suits me and I managed to
generate some good speed off the walls.
"The final game was all about focus. I don’t think I made a
mistake all game. It was great to have the big crowd here –
although it would be even better to have them a bit more
vocal. Maybe tomorrow ..."
Kitchen will take on world
number three Natalie Grinham after the
Australian-born Dutchwoman player breezed past qualifier
Line Hansen of Denmark 11-5 11-1 11-9. The other semi-final
pits top seed Natalie Grainger of the USA against
Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy. Earlier Grainger was
pushed to five games to edge out sixth seed Madeline Perry
while Kawy proved too strong for kiwi qualifier Joelle King
in four games.
The giant-killing run of King came to an end when the
Hamilton 20-year-old lost to world number seven Kawy 11-8
11-4 5-11 11-8.
It is the first time that King has qualified for a gold star
level world event and her performances should see the kiwi ,
currently ranked 39, move inside the world’s top 30.
 "I
was naturally disappointed. I really thought I could win
today. I found it hard to get up again for a second big game
in a row. I’ve never been in a tournament of this level and
still need to understand and have the strength to get up day
after day and produce your best.
"Omneya is a top player and she controlled the rallies. I
fought really hard but this is very much part of the
learning process for me.
"I’ve come a long way in a few weeks and I am proud of what
I have achieved. I firmly believe now that I can become a
top-10 player in the world and even world number one."
Top seed Grainger was pushed
to five games before taking out the final game 11-2 over
Perry.
The world number two won the first two games before Perry,
world number eight, fought back winning the next two before
Grainger regrouped to dominate the final game.
"The
effort was good, then not so good and then very good. I got
too comfortable after the first two games and got a bit too
complacent. I got a bit short and gave her some cross court
stuff that she was really quick on to and she punished me.
"She took the T and dominated and I was left floundering
around behind her. I had to get my work rate up and push a
bit harder, raise the pace and move her around.
"In the fifth I refocused and I didn’t make any mistakes at
all in that game. It was fun to get out there and not a bad
thing to go five games as I think it will sharpen me up
given that I have not played in a tournament for some time
now."
Grainger gutted over
Olympic exclusion
Grinham, runner-up in last
week’s Singapore Open, showed her renowned speed and
athleticism to real effort in dominating her match against
Hansen, dispatching the qualifier in just 28 minutes.
The semifinals of the New Zealand Men’s Classic, a one star
world event, pits number two seed Martin Knight (NZL)
against Australian Matthew Karwalski with the other
semifinal between the Auckland pairing of top seed Kashif
Shuja and Campbell Grayson.
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|
 New
Zealand
Open 2009
11-16 Aug, Mt Maunganui, $55k |
Round One
13 Aug |
Quarters
14 Aug |
Semis
15 Aug |
Final
16 Aug |
[1]
Natalie Grainger (Usa)
11/7, 11/8, 11/8
Jaclyn Hawkes (Nzl) |
[1] Natalie Grainger
11/6, 11/6, 9/11, 11/2 (46m)
[6] Madeline Perry |
[1] Natalie Grainger
11/8, 11/5, 11/9
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy |
1] Natalie Grainger
11/9, 11/5 11/8 (28m)
[2] Natalie Grinham |
[6]
Madeline Perry (Irl)
11/8, 5/11, 11/8, 11/9 (48m)
Kasey Brown (Aus) |
[3]
Rachael Grinham (Aus)
11/9, 11/8, 11/9 (41m)
[Q] Joelle King (Nzl) |
[Q] Joelle King
11/8, 11/4, 5/11, 11/8 (36m)
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy |
[5]
Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
11/3, 11/5, 11/5
[Q] Lisa Camilleri (Aus) |
Annie Au (Hkg)
6/11, 11/8, 12/10, 11/5 (40m)
[7] Shelley Kitchen (Nzl) |
[7] Shelley Kitchen
4/11, 15/13, 11/8, 4/11, 11/7 (59m)
[4] Jenny Duncalf |
[7] Shelley Kitchen 11/9,
11/2, 11/7
[2] Natalie Grinham |
[Q] Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/11, 5/11, 11/5, 11/8, 11/5
[4] Jenny Duncalf |
[Q] Line Hansen (Den)
11/9, 16/14, 9/11, 5/11, 11/6
[8] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) |
[Q] Line Hansen
11/5, 11/1, 11/9 (28m)
[2] Natalie Grinham |
Rebecca Chiu (Hkg)
11/5, 11/5, 11/3 (17m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (Ned) |
12-Aug,
Qualifying Finals:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy) bt Joey Chan (Hkg)
11/8, 11/6, 11/8 (30m)
Joelle King (Nzl) bt Donna Urquhart (Aus)
9/11, 5/11, 11/6, 11/5, 11/9 (46m)
Lisa Camilleri (Aus) bt
Kylie Lindsay (Nzl)
11/9, 11/4, 10/12, 11/5 (34m)
Line Hansen (Den) bt
Melody Francis (Aus)
11/6, 11/9, 11/9 (27m)
11-Aug, Qualifying Round One:
Engy Kheirallah (Egy) bt Kozue Onizawa (Jpn)
11/7, 11/8, 11/2 (20m)
Joey Chan (Hkg)
bye
Donna Urquhart (Aus) bt Emma Millar (Nzl)
11/2, 11/4, 11/5 (17m)
Joelle King (Nzl) bt Lana Harrison (Nzl)
11/5, 11/1, 11/0 (14m)
Kylie Lindsay (Nzl)
bye
Lisa Camilleri (Aus) bt Megan Craig (Nzl)
11/3, 11/6, 11/6 (19m)
Melody Francis (Aus) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (Nzl)
11/3 11/4 11/9 (17m)
Line Hansen (Den) bt Jackie Laurenson (Nzl)
11/3, 11/5, 11/8 (18m)
New Zealand Junior team in Chennai
|
NSC Men's Classic 2009
11-16 Aug, Mt Maunganui, $10k |
Round One
13 Aug |
Quarters
14 Aug |
Semis
15 Aug |
Final
16 Aug |
[1] Kashif Shuja (Nzl)
11/7, 11/8, 11/6 (32m)
Alex Grayson (Nzl) |
[1] Kashif Shuja
11/5, 11/8, 11/6 (24m)
[Q] Jacob Alexander |
[1] Kashif Shuja
13/11, 8/11, 11/4 11/8
[3] Campbell Grayson |
[3] Campbell Grayson
12/10, 11/5 10/12, 11/7 (79m)
[2] Martin Knight |
[8]
Anson Kwong (Hkg)
12/10, 11/8, 8/11, 11/9 (44m)
[Q] Jacob Alexander (Aus) |
[3]
Campbell Grayson (Nzl)
11/8, 11/6, 11/4 (32m)
[Q] Leo Au (Hkg) |
[3] Campbell Grayson
11/5, 11/5, 7/11, 9/11, 11/8 (62m)
[5] Zac Alexander |
[5] Zac Alexander (Aus)
11/9, 12/10, 11/8 (33m)
Nathan Stevenson (Aus) |
Wai
Hang Wong (Hkg)
4/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/6 (42m)
[7] Justin Beard (Aus) |
Wai Hang Wong
11/3, 11/7, 11/5 (21m)
[4] Matthew Karwalski |
[4] Matthew Karwalski
11/7, 11/8, 13/11
[2] Martin Knight |
[Q] Rex Hedrick (Aus)
11/7, 9/11, 11/9, 11/7 (36m)
[4] Matthew Karwalski (Aus) |
[Q] Evan Williams (Nzl)
12/10, 11/5, 11/9 (23m)
[6] Joshua Greenfield (Nzl) |
[6] Joshua Greenfield
11/7, 11/6, 12/14, 11/8 (51m)
[2] Martin Knight |
Graeme Wilson (Nzl)
11/5, 11/8, 11/5 (37m)
[2] Martin Knight (Nzl) |
12-Aug, Qualifying Finals:
Leo Au (Hkg) bat Cheng Yao Huang (Tpe)
11/5, 11/8, 7/11, 11/5 (45m)
Rex Hedrick (Aus) bt Hon Fung Wong (Hkg)
11/7, 11/6, 11/5 (28m)
Jacob Alexander (Aus) bt Luke Foster (Aus)
6/11, 11/9, 11/9, 11/4 (30m)
Evan Williams (Nzl) bt Peter Taylor (Aus)
11/4, 14/12, 5/11, 11/8 (55m)
11-Aug, Qualifying Round One:
Cheng Yau Haung (Tpe)
bye
Leo Au (Hkg) bt Chris Lloyd (Nzl)
11/7, 11/7, 11/4
Hon Fung Wong (Hkg) bt James Skiffington (Nzl)
11/7, 11/4, 11/7
Rex Hendrick (Aus) bt Lance Beddoes (Nzl)
13/11, 4/11, 11/4, 11/2
Luke Forster (Aus) bt Matiu Te Kani McQueen (Nzl)
13/11, 12/10, 11/3
Jacob Alexandra (Aus) bt Joseph Watts (Nzl)
11/5, 9/11, 11/6, 11/7
Evan Williams (Nzl) bt Bryce Redman (Nzl)
11/2, 11/8, 11/8
Peter Taylor (Aus) bt Lui Syder (Nzl)
11/8, 11/7, 2/11, 9/11, 11/4
|
13-Aug,
Round One:
King causes major upset
Hamilton 20-year-old Joelle King caused the boilover
when she upset former world No 1 Rachel Grinham in
the first round at Mt Maunganui tonight.
Two New Zealanders are through to the quarterfinals after
Shelley Kitchen prevailed in four games over Hong Kong’s
Annie Au on the glass court at Bayfair Shopping Centre.
The top two seeds Natalie Grainger and Natalie
Grinham both went through in straight games against kiwi
Jaclyn Hawkes and Hong Kong’s Rebecca Chiu respectively.
It was no pushover for all of the seeds though with No 3
seed Rachel Grinham out and eighth seed Isabelle Stoehr
beaten by qualifier Line Hansen.
King, the world number 39, produced a confident performance
to down the No 3 seed in straight games 11-9 11-8 11-9 in
front of a hearty home crowd.
King played with confidence and hit with excellent depth to
keep the super-fast Grinham in the back court. The
experienced Australian tried to slow the game down in the
third game but King was able to show patience to force her
way to a brilliant victory.
 "I’ve
played Rachael before and knew how she played. She has been
around the scene for a long time and has a brilliant short
game. So I knew if I could keep her behind me and play my
game I would come out on top.
"I played out of my skin today. It’s the biggest win I’ve
had so far. She is No 4 in the world. I’ve been having a
great time of late and hopefully it carries on.
"I had tons of family and people from my club here to
support me. It was huge."
Kitchen, New Zealand’s top
ranked player and No 7 seed at the tournament, overcame the
illusive left-hander Au 6-11 11-8 12-10 11-5..
Au, ranked 14th in the world, played with deft touch to
force the 29 year old kiwi into a running game but Kitchen
showed plenty of patience and dominated the final game.
"She
has had some good wins on the Tour over the last 18 months.
When I saw I had her in the draw I knew I was in for a tough
match.
"Annie breaks up your momentum. She cuts a lot of balls
really short. Not many girls play like that and I don’t get
to practice against that sort of player. It’s always a bit
of a shock to always be going to the front of the court.
"I am pleased to get through it. I was feeling pretty good
at the end. I didn’t want to go in there and play badly. I
wanted to play my own game and play well."
Grainger showed little signs
of a player who is playing her first tournament in three
months with some outstanding touches and good pace against
Hawkes.
The New Zealander had her chances, up 8-5 in the second game
and 7-4 in the third but could not convert against the
classy top seed.
Earlier qualifier Hansen and world number five Jenny
Duncalf had to endure five-games to progress to the
quarterfinals.
Hansen overcame world No 11 Isabel Stoehr (France) 11-9
16-14 9-11 5-11 11-6 for the best scalp of her career. She
was two games up before Stoehr levelled the match before the
Danish player regained her poise to claim the final game
comfortably.
 "That
is the best win of my career and the highest ranked player I
have beaten so I am very pleased. I tried to stay focussed.
"I lost heaps of five setters so I tried to stay calm and
play one rally at a time and focus on good length and good
shots and not what the score was."
Duncalf came back from two
games down against the talented Egyptian Engy Kheirallah who
impressed with some outstanding angled winners. The England
player settled in the third game and from that point was too
quick at the front of the court for Kheirallah in the
longest game of the tournament so far, in just under an
hour.
 "It
was pretty difficult in the end. Even though Engy is ranked
22 now she better than that. She is always difficult to play
especially when you give her angles.
"I wasn’t finding any length early or seeing it that great
and getting a bit stressed out. I got a lead in the third
and managed to relax a bit and started trying to enjoy it a
bit more."
Tomorrow pits King against
fifth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) a straight games winner
today and Kitchen meets Duncalf, while the other
quarterfinals sees Grainger against Ireland’s Madeline Perry
and Hansen against Natalie Grinham.
All the main seeds progressed to the quarterfinals in the
New Zealand Men’s Classic with the New Zealand top seeds
Kashif Shuja , Martin Knight and Campbell Grayson all
through in straight games.
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|
12-Aug,
Qualifying
Finals:
King comeback clinches
main draw place
Ian Hepenstall reports
Hamilton's Joelle
King showed her fighting spirits to come from two games
down to qualify for the main draw of the A1 Homes New
Zealand Open at Bayfair in Mt Maunganui today.
King, 20, is one of four players to win through from
qualifying and will take her place in her first-ever WISPA
Gold main draw. The world number 39 overcame talented
Australian left-hander Donna Urquhart, ranked 29th in the
world, eventually prevailing 11-9 in the fifth game.
She joins world number 23 Engy Kheirallah, world 38
Lisa Camilleri and world 28 Line Hansen as the
four qualifiers into the main draw. Their first round
matches will be drawn at the official opening function later
this evening.
King made a tentative start as Urquhart dominated the
opening two games winning 11-9 and 11-5. The kiwi, who won
the Australian Open last month, found better length and
dominated the rallies to win the next two games 11-6 and
11-5 to force the match into the deciding fifth game.
Both players fought strongly with the lead changing hands
six times in the decider before being tied at 9-9. King dug
deep to win the final two points for victory.
Earlier Kheirallah was impressive in dispatching world
number 37 Joey Chan in straight games 11-8 11-7 11-8.
The 27-year-old from the squash-mad city of Cairo said she
was pleased with her performance after struggling with lack
of recent tournament play and jet lag. Her last tournament
was in June.
“I felt much better today. I struggled yesterday and did not
feel that good. It is a long flight from Cairo. And I have
not been in a big tournament for a little while. This is my
first Gold Star this year.”
Camilleri was made to work hard against Lindsey, the three
time New Zealand junior champion, who is now based in the
squash stronghold of Halifax in northern England. The young
kiwi came from two games down to claim the third game but
was beaten 11-9 11-4 10-12 11-5.
Hansen was too classy for talented young Australian Francis,
winning in straight games 11-6 11-9 11-9.
There’s a further New Zealander in the main draw for the New
Zealand Men’s Classic with Evan Williams winning through in
his second round match to join the other qualifiers Leo Au (HGK)
and Australians Rex Hedrick and Jacob Alexander in the main
draw starting tomorrow.
The key match tomorrow pits New Zealand’s Jaclyn Hawkes,
world number 15, against the top seed and world number two,
Natalie Grainger (USA) while Shelley Kitchen meets a tough
first-up opponent in Hong Kong’s Annie Au.
11-Aug, Qualifying Round
One:
King faces crucial clash
in qualifying finals
Ian Hepenstall reports
Hamilton’s Joelle King faces a pivotal match in her
young squash career tomorrow at the A1 Homes New Zealand
Squash Open at Bayfair in Mt Maunganui.
King, 20, took only 15 minutes to overwhelm national junior
representative Lana Harrison (Auckland) in straight games
11-5, 11-1, 11-0 on the glass court in the opening round of
qualifying matches today.
She now meets world number 31 Donna Urquhart with the
winner to advance to the main draw starting on Thursday.
Australian Urquhart, number 31 in the world, had an
impressive win over Kapiti’s Emma Millar in straight
games in just 17 minutes, with both Harrison and Millar
having only returned from the world junior championships in
India on Monday.
King, who has risen to 39 in the world rankings following
victory in the Australian Open last month, was pleased with
her effort today.
"It
was reasonably straight forward but I was pleased with how I
hit the ball. I came over yesterday and got in a good
practice and really like the court.
"I think the glass court really suits my game although it
does take some getting used to.
"It is going to be really tough. She is a really good player
but I am looking forward to it, and hopefully I can qualify
for my first Gold event main draw."
The pair have only met once
before with the Australian winning that match in four games
back in 2007.
The first round qualifying went to seeding today with
Egypt's world number 23 Engy Kheirallah untroubled in
accounting for Japan’s Kozue Onizawa in straight games in
just 20 minutes and she meets Hong Kong’s Joey Chan
tomorrow in the second round. Chan had a bye in her first
round.
England-based New Zealander Kylie Lindsay, the
three-time national junior champion, got through on a bye
and will meet world number 35, Lisa Camilleri of
Australia who took 19 minutes to overcome a solid
performance from kiwi junior Megan Craig in three games.
Australian Melody Francis will take on Denmark’s
Line Hansen in the final second round qualifier after
they overcame juniors Amanda Landers-Murphy and Jackie
Laurenson respectively in straight games.
Both New Zealanders struggled in the first two games but
finished strongly with Landers-Murphy losing the last game
11-9 and Laurenson was edged 11-8 in the third.
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"It’s
great to make it into a main draw of a tournament of this
level. I really struggled early on. I was really nervous
playing at home in front of friends and family.
"I was very tentative and just did not see the ball well at
all right through. So to come back and win is pretty
special. To win over a player as good as Donna when you are
not playing well gives me real confidence.
"I know I will need to step up tomorrow in the first round
and will need to play a lot better."
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Good odds on Kitchen ...
New Zealand’s top women’s squash player Shelley Kitchen
is at 16/1 at TAB, the New Zealand sports
betting site, to win the A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s
Squash Open at Mt Maunganui this week.
It’s the first time the New Zealand Women’s Squash Open has
been contested in 16 years and Kitchen will be aiming to
follow in the footsteps of New Zealand’s greatest ever
squash player Dame Susan Devoy, who claimed the NZ Open
title eight times before her retirement in 1992. Devoy also
won the World Open four times title and the British Open
eight times.
Auckland-based Kitchen, who is currently ranked at number 10
in the world, has 15 career titles to her credit and was a
double medallist at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in
2006.
Kitchen made the quarter-finals in her last major outing at
the NZ$88,000 Seoul Open in May, where she was narrowly
defeated by world number four Rachael Grinham in five games.
The top two seeds in the main draw Natalie Grainger (USA)
and Natalie Grinham (NED), who are ranked second and third
in the world respectively, are joint favourites with the New
Zealand TAB to win the title, at 3/1.
The only other New Zealander confirmed in the main draw at
this stage - Jaclyn Hawkes - is paying odds of 40/1 to win
the title. Hawkes, who is ranked at 16 in the world, has
made two semi-finals and three quarter-finals from her nine
starts at WISPA events this year.
Place your bets at TAB
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10-Aug:
Injury, illness scares for
top hopes in NZ Open
 The
top seed Natalie Grainger and leading kiwi hope
Shelley Kitchen have overcome injury and illness scares
to take their place in this week’s A1 Homes New Zealand
Women’s Squash Open at Mt Maunganui.
It’s the first time in 16 years that the event has been run,
starting tomorrow in a glass court at Bayfair Shopping
Centre, with the Gold Star world calendar event boasting
NZ$82,000 prize money.
Grainger arrived in the country yesterday after recovering
from a foot injury that forced her out of the lead-up events
– the World Games in Taiwan and last week’s Singapore
Masters.
Kitchen exited the World Games in the second round to
Australian Kasey Brown, troubled by a virus and extreme
fatigue. The world number 10 decided to return to New
Zealand, withdrawing from the Malaysian Open and Singapore
Masters events.
 “I
had some time out and have bounced back well,” Kitchen said.
“I think it was a virus and I just had no energy at all. But
after a few days off I feel fine and have trained well.”
Kitchen has had training matches against fellow kiwis
Jaclyn Hawkes, world number 16, and Joelle King,
world number 39, in readiness for the New Zealand Open.
She and Grainger will test their fitness when they pair-off
in two exhibition matches, tonight in Kitchen’s home town of
Kaitaia and tomorrow night at Herne Bay Squash Club on the
North Shore before heading to Mt Maunganui for the WISPA
event.
The New Zealand Women’s Open and Men’s Classic both begin
tomorrow with the qualifying rounds to find the final four
places for the main draw that starts on Thursday.
There’s been no time to blink for New Zealand’s talented
juniors, who arrived home only yesterday from the world
junior championships in India, to take part in their first
New Zealand Open.
The trio of Lana Harrison (Auckland), Amanda
Landers-Murphy (Rotorua) and Emma Millar (Kapiti)
have headed straight to Mt Maunganui for the qualifying
rounds.
They all made it through to the third round of singles at
the world championships and combined to finish eighth from
16 nations in the team championship, beaten in tight games
in the playoff for seventh with Malaysia.
Millar and Landers-Murphy will both take on Australian
opponents tomorrow. Millar meets world number 31 Donna
Urquhart and Landers-Murphy takes on world 71 Melody
Francis.
Harrison has the unenviable task of taking on in-form New
Zealander Joelle King (Hamilton) who has jumped to a
career-high 39 in the world rankings after three wins in
Australia last month including the Australian Open.
Matamata’s Kylie Lindsay, now based in the squash
stronghold at Halifax in northern England, is definitely
through to the second round of qualifying. The world number
49 has a walkover following the late injury withdrawal of
Japan’s Yuko Ikeda.
There are two further first round walkovers with top seed in
qualifying, world number 23 Engy Kheirallah (Egypt)
and Hong Kong’s Joey Chan through after their
opponents also withdrew with injury.
The other New Zealander in the qualifying draw is Blenheim’s
Megan Craig who takes on Australian world number 38,
Lisa Camilleri.
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09-Aug:
Former World No 1 looks forward
to trans tasman squash rivalry
Former world number one, Australian Rachael Grinham
is keen on some one-upmanship over her trans tasman rivals
in next week’s A1 Homes New Zealand Open at Mt Maunganui.
The 32-year-old, current world number four, will lead a
family one-two punch in next week’s Gold Star world tour
event with her younger sister Natalie. They are
ranked second and third for the event, the first time in 16
years that the New Zealand Open has been played.
It’s the first time that Grinham has ventured to New Zealand
as a professional and is considered one of the superstars of
the sport.
 "I
would probably feel the need to rub it in a little if I was
to win!
"To be honest though, I will treat it like any other Gold
Star Event at this stage. Obviously would love to win it,
but just hoping I can put in a good effort and play well
really.
"It's hard if you don't like being away from home as you
pretty much have to base yourself overseas for a good part
of the year. I've lived overseas now for over 10 years so
I've grown used to not being able to get back home much.
Usually I get back for one or two weeks each year which I
look forward to.
"But I don't get homesick for the rest of the time since
I've pretty much made a "home" overseas now.
"This year my biggest aim would be to play well in the World
Open. Both of my parents are coming over for it, and it's
being run in Amsterdam by my brother-in-law, so mostly I'd
really just like to have a good result there."
After winning the world
junior title, her career reached its zenith in a brilliant
2007 when she won the World Open, the British Open and three
other titles, while she was ranked number one in the sport
in 2004 and 2005. Grinham teamed up with sister Natalie to
win the women’s doubles title at the Commonwealth Games in
2006 and silver in the singles to sister Natalie.
Born in Australia’s garden city of Toowoomba, inland from
Brisbane, Grinham has been a world traveller on the WISPA
squash circuit for a decade, based in Cairo where she honed
her skills and this year she plans to spend time in the
Netherlands where his sister Natalie is based and England.
Grinham has made a busy start to the year with one win and
five semifinals in her seven starts with the New Zealand
Open the final of a run of Gold Star events she is using to
prepare for the World Open.
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08-Aug:
King eyes big time in NZ Open
Waikato squash player Joelle King has had a major
boost ahead of what could be a career-defining tournament at
this week’s A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s Open at Mt
Maunganui.
The 20-year-old has seen her world ranking jump 14 spots to
No 39 ahead of the championships at Bayfair Shopping Centre,
where King will attempt to qualify for her first WISPA Gold
Star main draw event.
King, sister of All Black Regan who now plays in
Wales, enjoyed a golden spell of form across the Tasman last
month. She won the New South Wales and Victorian Open events
before conquering the Australian Open. This was a major
breakthrough for the young New Zealander, beating world
number 12 Kasey Brown (Australia) and number 14 Annie Au
(Hong Kong) on the way to victory at Clare near Adelaide.
The tournament wins were the result of some new-found
dedication by King who put in some serious hard work in the
last six months. King has worked with former squash great
Leilani Rorani which has helped her relook at her game.
 "I
have always had the game, but it’s not much use having the
game if you can’t get to the ball.
"I decided that I had to put in some really hard work off
the court. I am working with Leilani’s former personal
trainer and everyone can see the results. I am leaner and
fitter and it is making all the difference.”
"The wins in Australia have shown me that this is what I
needed to do. So this year I am going to venture on to the
world circuit and see how I can perform.”
"It’s amazing to have the event back in New Zealand. It is
perfect for me. To get the chance to play a professional
event at this level in my own country is great.
"My support here especially at the Hamilton Squash Club is
fantastic. It is going to be a real thrill and a big
opportunity."
King must win two knockout
matches in the qualifying phase on Tuesday and Wednesday if
she is to secure a spot in the main draw starting on
Thursday on the glass court at Bayfair.
She meets national junior representative Lana Harrison
(Auckland) in her first quelifying round with a second round
duel against the winner of the clash between Kapiti’s Emma
Millar, another member of the New Zealand junior team, and
Australian Donna Urquhart to earn a place in the main draw.
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 "One
of the key benefits in the tournament is to provide
qualifying tournament experience for our developing players
here at home and also for them to experience just where they
need to reach if they aspire to be among the best in the
world.
"The quality of players in the qualifying draw is high. We
have players from Egypt, Japan, Denmark, Australia and Hong
Kong in the qualifying event, so that in itself will present
opportunity and experience for our players.
"We would be delighted if some of them can win their way
through the qualifying draw and join Shelley Kitchen and
Jaclyn Hawkes in the main draw."
Tournament Director
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11-Jul:
King among young NZ players
given big chance at home
In-form
Waikato player Joelle King will be hoping for the
biggest moment in her young career in next month’s A1 Homes
New Zealand Open Squash Championship at Mt Maunganui.
King, fresh from back-to-back victories in Australia at the
NSW and
Victorian Opens, is one of a number of New Zealanders to
be included in the field for the qualifying draw for the
WISPS Gold US$55,000 event. The final qualifying draw will
be confirmed next week after the withdrawal window has
closed.
The A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s Open and New Zealand’s
Men’s Classic form part of the Mount Maunganui Festival of
Squash from 11 to 16 August that includes a domestic
tournament at several squash clubs in Tauranga and Mount
Maunganui with the feature professional events to be staged
on a glass court at Bayfair Shopping Centre.
King, who is expected to rise inside the world’s top 50
after her win in the Victorian Open, will be joined in the
qualifying tournament by Matamata’s Kylie Lindsay,
Ohakune’s Amanda Cranston, Papakura’s Laura
Harrison and Auckland-based Jackie Laurenson.Lindsay, 25, is the highest
ranked of the New Zealanders, currently at No 46 in the
world. The three-time New Zealand Junior champion, who is
currently based in the English squash hotbed in Halifax,
made her breakthrough on the WISPA circuit when she won the
Moscow Open last year.
King, 20, is up to 53 in the world rankings and has enjoyed
dominating performances to win the New South Wales Open with
a 3-1 victory over Australian Lisa Camilleri in the final
and then the Victoria Open, beating Australian Amelia
Pittock in straight games in the final.
Cranston, 19, who is based in Cambridge, is the under-19
national champion as well as the bronze medallist at the
2007 world junior championships and a two time
quarterfinalist at the British Juniors. She has jumped to
87th in the world rankings.
Harrison, 18, is based at the strong Remuera club in
Auckland and is the current North Island Under19 champion
and a quarterfinalist at the NSW Open while Laurenson,
formerly in the world’s top-100, and a multi-national age
champion, has been concentrating on her tertiary accountancy
studies so far this year.
A number of the country’s leading junior players have also
been included in the qualifying line-up to make the
16-player qualifying draw including Megan Craig
(Blenheim), Emma Millar (Kapiti Coast), Danielle
Fourie (Palmerston North) and Amanda Landers-Murphy
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World stars confirmed for
New Zealand Squash Open
Seven of the world’s top-10 ranked women’s squash players
have confirmed their entry for next month’s A1 Homes New
Zealand Open championship at Mt Maunganui.
The $US45,000 tournament, returning to New Zealand after an
absence of 14 years, will be headed by current world No 2
Natalie Grainger (USA).
The 12 players confirmed for a place in the draw are all
inside the world’s top 17 ranked players for the
championship to be played as part of the Festival of Squash
from 9 to 16 August. The remaining four places will be
decided when a qualifying draw is announced later this week.
The confirmed seeds include two New Zealanders in Shelley
Kitchen and Jaclyn Hawkes, ranked 10th and 17th
respectively in the world rankings, with the duo to play in
doubles at Australian Championships in Melbourne this week.
The seeds include Australian sisters Natalie and Rachael
Grinham, ranked third and fourth respectively on the
WISPA world rankings, world No 5 Jenny Duncalf
(England), No 7 Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt), No 8
Madeline Perry, No 10 Kitchen and No 11 Isabelle
Stoehr (France).
“It’s
just fantastic. We were hoping for three or four of the
world top-10 but this is as strong as many of the major
squash championships around the world which is remarkable
for our first New Zealand Open after so many years,”
“We have received tremendous international support since the
announcement of the event and New Zealand has a rich
heritage in the sport.
“Shelley Kitchen and the other New Zealand players have also
been talking to all of the leading players to entice them to
the tournament.
“We are going to see some absolutely sensational squash.”
Tournament Director
Grainger, the English-born
American citizen, is a two-time World Open runner-up who was
formerly president of WISPA and a strong advocate for the
sport’s Olympic inclusion. After a lull in form she bounced
back in 2007 with three wins including victory over world No
1 Nicol David’s in the Kuala Lumpur Open final, which ended
her 56-game winning run.
Natalie Grinham, 31, won three gold medals in singles,
doubles and mixed at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and
was runner up in the World Open in 2006. She has fought back
after a bout of illness to No 3 in the world.
Her older sister Rachael is one of the superstars of the
sport. Her career reached its zenith in a brilliant 2007
when she won the World Open, the British Open and three
other titles. The 33 year old, who recently moved base from
Egypt to join her sister in the Netherlands, was the world
No 1 for two years in 2004 and 2005.
Duncalf, 26, is the British champion and semi-finalist in
the World Open last year while 23-year-old Omneya is one of
the rising stars, a world junior champion and three-time
winner of the Hurghada International on home turf including
beating Rachael Grinham this year.
There will be strong support for the two New Zealanders in
the main draw. Auckland-based Kitchen has 15 career titles
to her credit and was a double medallist at the Melbourne
Commonwealth Games. She rose to a career best No 6 in the
world late last year and has three wins already this year.
Hawkes, 26, who shares her time between UK and Auckland, has
a rich heritage in sport with her mother a former New
Zealand squash representative and father a former Davis Cup
tennis player. She joined the WISPA rankings in 2007 and
last year was a quarterfinalist at the World Open.
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Men added to Festival
Organisers of A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s Squash Open at
Mount Maunganui in August have now added an international
men’s competition to the schedule.
The New Zealand’s Men’s Classic will be a one star
tournament that will carry official world ranking points and
has been registered with the Professional Squash
Association, the men’s global governing body.
This will support the A1 Homes New Zealand Women’s Open, a
Gold Star level tournament that will feature several of the
world’s top 10 ranked players.
The two tournaments form part of the Mount Maunganui
Festival of Squash from 11 to 16 August that includes a
domestic tournament at several squash clubs in Tauranga and
Mount Maunganui with the feature professional events to be
staged on a glass court at Bayfair Shopping Centre.
The two tournaments form
part of the Mount Maunganui Festival of Squash from 11 to 16
August that includes a domestic tournament at several squash
clubs in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui with the feature
professional events to be staged on a glass court at Bayfair
Shopping Centre.
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