04-Jun, Final:
[1] Natalie Grinham (Ned) bt [5] Suzie Pierrepont (Eng)
             11/7, 11/6, 11/7 (34m)

Grinham grabs Pyramides title

World number three Natalie Grinham clinched her first WISPA title since becoming a Dutch national when she beat Suzie Pierrepont in the final of the Des Pyramides Open in Paris.

A record three-times gold medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia - the country where she was born and raised - Grinham became a Dutch citizen last year after living in the Netherlands since 1999.

But, while the 31-year-old former world number two reached five Tour finals last year - and clinched the European Squash Federation's European Individual Championship crown in May - WISPA title success had eluded Grinham until now.

Seeded one, Grinham reached the final after beating seventh seed Camille Serme, thereby ending local interest in the championship.

Her opponent Suzie Pierrepont, the fifth seed from England, had claimed a surprise place in the climax after surviving two marathon battles in the previous two rounds - in the quarters upsetting French favourite Isabelle Stoehr, the No2 seed, in 65 minutes.

But the final was one match too far for the 24-year-old from Sussex as the experienced Grinham coasted to victory in 34 minutes.

The triumph marks the 13th Tour title of Grinham's career.
 

French coverage

Draw & Results

03-Jun, Semis:
[1] Natalie Grinham (Ned) bt [7] Camille Serme (Fra)
        11/6, 11/4, 11/13, 11/5 (65m)
[5] Suzie Pierrepont (Eng) bt [6] Latasha Khan (Usa)
       6/11, 11/6, 11/6, 9/11, 11/9 (64m)

Pierrepont powers to Pyramides final

England's Suzie Pierrepont survived her second hour-long marathon in 24 hours in the Des Pyramides Open in  Paris to claim a surprise slot in the final.

The 24-year-old fifth seed from Sussex - now based in Philadelphia, USA - made her breakthrough in the previous round when she upset second-seeded local favourite Isabelle Stoehr in 65 minutes.

But Pierrepont, ranked 28 in the world, dug deep for the second time in the event to beat former US champion Latasha Khan - recovering from a game down to overcome the sixth seed in 64 minutes.

"Yesterday was tough!! Latasha is playing really well and her straight kill is so good on these courts. She played really well against Line.

"I managed to get up and then let it slip again. Just managed to hold on at the end but it was so close. Don't think my coach would have been very happy with the end of the match if he'd been watching. I'll probably get a hard time for it anyway!!"

Now in the seventh Tour final of her career - but the biggest by a significant margin - Pierrepont will face her toughest test, against Dutch favourite Natalie Grinham.

The top seed from Almere faced rapidly improving French star Camille Serme, the seventh seed from Creteil who upset England's third seed Dominique Lloyd-Walter to make the last four.

Serme stretched the world No3 for almost an hour - but Grinham ultimately prevailed in 59 minutes to reach the 33rd WISPA final of her career.

"No upset tonight, Natalie beats me 3/1.

"But I'm not unhappy with my performance, after all, she is not world number 3 for nothing, and she makes you earn point after point.

"It was very hard physically, and the conditions were very warm indeed, she was having a ball out there running to the four corners!!!!

"I'm learning with those matches, and next time I'll play her, I'll play once again a different way, as I've learned from the experience.

"Thanks to the organisation, the French Federation, and all my coaches. Of course, thanks to my family, and all my friends who came to support me.

"See you all next year..."

02-Jun, Quarters:

[1] Natalie Grinham bt [8] Tenille Swartz11/3, 11/9, 11/3 (24m)
[7] Camille Serme bt [3] Dom. Lloyd-Walter  11/6, 11/6, 11/5 (32m)

[6] Latasha Khan bt [4] Line Hansen 13/11, 10/12, 11/7, 12/10 (64m)
[5] Suzie Pierrepont bt [2] Isabelle Stoehr 11/7, 12/14, 11/8, 9/11, 11/7 (65m)

Suzie stuns Stoehr

Defending champion Isabelle Stoehr crashed out in Paris as the second seed was beaten in a see-saw five-setter by England's Suzie Pierrepont.

Pierrepont now meets Latasha Khan for a place in the final, after the many-time US champion overcame fourth seed Line Hansen in another upset that took over an hour.

Home interest was maintained though when Camille Serme continued her recent run of good form with victory over third-seeded Dominique Lloyd-Walter.

In the only match that went to seeding Natalie Grinham eased past Tenille Swartz to set up a meeting with Serme in the semi-finals.

"I'm very happy to have taken my revenge on Dominique, as she beat me last year here, 3/2. But on this occasion, I was able to impose my rhythm and to find some nice shots - even if some were a bit lucky sometimes.

"The match was very intense physically. Dominique tried and slowed the pace down at the end of third, but I insisted to speed it up, with heavy shots, and taking it as early as possible.

"I will do my utmost best against Natalie tonight!"

"It's so hot here. Your skin feels like its on fire on court. The club here is fantastic, haven't been able to enjoy the lovely pool yet though.

"Yesterday was a total battle. Neither of us played that well. The courts don't exactly suit our games, you cant get the ball to stay down, you have to just keep running. 65mins on there feels like forever.
I've lost so many five-game matches this season, I was determined not to lose another one!!

French coverage

Draw & Results

French coverage

Draw & Results

01-Jul, First Round:
Seeds sail through to Pyramides quarters

All eight seeded players won their first round matches in Port Marly, although defending champion Isabelle Stoehr, the second seed, was pushed all the way by compatriot Maud Duplomb, a qualifier.
 

French coverage

Draw & Results

French coverage

Yuko & Maud

Carolyn & Nikoleta

Célia & Lovisa

29-Jun-09 - Qualifying first round:
A FEW UPSETS ALREADY

According to our ears and eyes in Port Marly, Craig -forgive Steve, bless him, he thought that the Pyramides' club was in the south of France, nope, Paris, just outside - we had two upsets today already.

First, Soraya Renaï,  (ass.92) was was out played by Jenna Gates (113) in speed and fitness. Then again, not that surprising, as the French girl didn't play for nearly a year.

Also Laura Pomportes (112WR) won against Anna-Carin Forstadius, in a great match in which the result could have gone either way....

To be noticed, Célia Allamargot just came back from a training camp in the US, has virtually landed yesterday, went a little trip to Marseille, and basically played squash at 6am for her body clock today. She'll be glad of a little more sleep, and of her short match today...
 

 11/7, 11/6, 11/7 (34m)

[5] Suzie Pierrepont 

30-Jun, Qualifying - Finals :

Sara El Noamany (Egy) bt Célia Allamargot (Fra)             11/3, 8/11, 11/8, 11/7 (31m)
Maud Duplomb (Fra) bt Carolyn Russell (Can)           7/11, 11/8, 7/11, 11/9, 11/6 (43m)
Jenna Gates (Eng) bt Laura Pomportes (Fra)           8/11, 10/12, 11/9, 11/7, 11/5 (54m)
Lotte Eriksen (Nor) bt Coline Aumard (Fra)               11/8, 11/8, 7/11, 9/11, 11/6 (49m)

29-Jun, Qualifying First Round:

Célia Allamargot bt Lovisa Forstadius (Swe)                         11/3, 11/4, 11/7 (20m)
Sara El Noamany (Egy) bt Chloe Mesic                              11/9, 11/2, 11/4 (20m)

Maud Duplomb bt Yuko Ikeda (Jpn)                                   11/4, 11/3, 11/2 (19m)Carolyn Russell (Can) bt Nikoleta Pozidi (Gre)                    11/2, 11/3, 11/0 (14m)

Jenna Gates (Eng) bt Soraya Renai                                  11/8, 11/7, 12/10 (27m)
 Laura Pomportes bt Anna-Carin Forstadius (Swe)    8/11, 11/4, 12/10, 12/10 (38m)

Coline Aumard (Fra) bt Carrie Hastings (Eng)                         11/7, 5/11, 11/5, 11/6
Lotte Eriksen (Nor) bt Julia Lecoq (Fra)                                         11/1, 11/4, 11/2
 

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