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Carol Weymuller Open
2006
Heights
Casino, New York,
09 - 14 Oct, $31.5k |
14-Oct-06, Final:
[1] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (Usa)
6/9, 9/6, 9/1, 1/9, 9/4 (70m) |
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Rachael wins
Weymuller rollercoaster
Julian Wellings reports
The final of the 2006 Carol Weymuller US Open was played between the
event's two top seeds who were both former world no.1. It was the most
intriguing match of the week with both players enjoying complete control
at times, each player desperately trying to impose their game on the
other with two very contrasting styles of play.
In the first game Natalie seemed to get her customary quick start to
open a 3-0 lead, however Rachel was showing no ill effects of the
previous evening, was moving extremely well and pulled back to 3-3
relatively quickly. It was point for point to 6-6 although Natalie was
very much in control of the rallies playing very tight and was
incredibly accurate going short on the volley or off the bounce and
Rachel was calling on her incredible movement to keep her in it at
times. The pressure told in the end and Natalie won the first 9/6.
The second was a tale of two halves. Natalie opened a 6-0 lead in a
couple of minutes by hitting great length with a lot of pace and was not
missing any drops and volley drops when the chances came. Rachel had
seemingly lost some focus between the first and second and was a little
loose and impatient, but seemed to collect herself at 0-6 and adopt a
similar tactic to the previous night as she started to lob everything,
stay very patient and cut out the errors. As with the previous evening
it forced her opponent into some errors and Natalie lost some focus and
by the time it was 6-6 Rachel was more confident and closed out the game
9/6 thanks to a few more errors from Natalie.
The third game was all Rachel who now seemed to have found the balance
between being patient and attacking the front which was working Natalie
a lot harder physically, and although Natalie had moments of controlling
rallies there was nothing she could do against a vibrant Rachel that was
now using the entire front wall with confidence and was drawing gasps
from the crowd with her court coverage.
The fourth looked like it was going the same way for the first couple of
rallies but Rachel hit just a couple of errors and this seemed to be the
story of the match, meaning that no matter how much each one of them was
under pressure, they each only needed a couple of rallies in their
favour to swing the momentum back to them. Natalie capitalized and found
her confidence again, errors turned to winners again and while the
rallies remained competitive Natalie was now firmly in control of them
again and closed out the game 9/1.
The decider was the same battle for control but unlike the previous two
games neither player was allowing the other one to get away, and so it
went point for point to 4-4. The physical advantage now started to tell
as Rachel incredibly was still moving as she was in the first and
Natalie was slowing down and while the high quality rallies continued
Rachel had gained control and ran out the winner 9/4.
It was a great match to end to a great tournament, and for Rachael fifth
time lucky as she won her first final of the year to add the Weymuller
trophy to her four runners-up awards ...
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DOUBLE TROUBLE
FOR RACHAEL
After winning the Weymuller final
Rachael Grinham arrived in Hong a
double champion, since a few days before the start the Weymuller had
also been dubbed the Women's US Open Championship for 2006.
The move was fairly low key, to the extent that the reigning US Open
champion - Natalie Grinham - didn't know, hadn't entered, and was therefore unable to
defend her title.
So you can imagine the greeting that Rachael got from her little sister
in Hong Kong ... something along the lines of "Congratulations on
pinching my title, sis!"
Still, at least it keeps it in the family. |
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14-Oct-06, Semi-Finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt [3] Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
6/9, 3/9, 9/5, 9/3, 9/6 (85m)
[2] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [4] Annelize Naude (Ned)
9/1, 5/9, 9/2, 9/1 (35m) |
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[1] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt
[3] Engy Kheirallah (Egy) 6/9, 3/9, 9/5, 9/3, 9/6 (85m) |
Two
marathons
too much for Engy
 Top-seeded
Australian Rachael Grinham had to fight back from two games down to
overcome fast-improving Engy Kheirallah in a dramatic 85-minute
semi-final at Heights Casino in New York.
It was the 24-year-old Egyptian's second marathon clash in 24 hours
after battling past England's Lauren Briggs in a 92-minute quarter-final
duel.
But Grinham's greater experience shone through in the semi of the
established WISPA World Tour event as she dug deep to forge a victory to
earn her second successive final appearance in a WISPA event – and the
38th of her career.
 "Before
the match I was nervous of being tired but felt good. I was 2/0 up
and playing really well and Rachel was making a lot of mistakes and
I couldn’t believe it when I was 2/0 up!
"I had a lead in the third then Rachel changed her game, slowing the
pace and hitting a lot of lobs and she stopped going short and cut
out the mistakes. I kept going for my shots but from more difficult
positions and started making mistakes and I got more and more
frustrated and was stubborn thinking it’s going to work.
"In the fifth I got more patient and got a second wind but she was
playing better and her experience won her the match."
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 "From
the knock up the ball felt really heavy on my racket, I couldn’t
seem to get a decent length especially when I tried to put pace on
the ball.
"Everything was loose and Engy was hitting so many good winners off
my bad length and cross courts.
"Basically the first two games she was playing much better squash
than me,
"I knew the only way to stay in the match was to run everything down
and luckily my movement was very good today.
"I had to keep her behind me and deep so I started lobbing as much
as possible forcing Engy to go for higher risk shots which she did
in the third and fourth to let me back in.
"In the fifth she became more patient and kept the ball deep for
longer which made the fifth a close game."
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| [2] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt
[4] Annelize Naude (Ned) 9/1, 5/9,
9/2, 9/1 (35m) |
Natalie sets up
Rachael Rematch
It will be another recent opponent for Rachael, after second seed
Natalie Grainger beat Dutchwoman Annelize Naude to set up a repeat of
the pair's British Open quarter-final.
The first game was over almost as quick as it started with Natalie
playing at a blistering pace that caught Annelize completely off guard.
Natalie reeled off eight consecutive points before Annelize got on the
score board and took the first 9/1.
The second game was a different match, Annelize played better and
started to get into the points and appeared to get a handle on Natalie’s
pace as they had 17 exchanges to reach 1-1 at the start of the second.
Natalie had lost some length and patience and made a number of boast
unforced errors and after the initial exchange Annelize went up 6-2
quickly.
Natalie started to peg back the lead but it was too late and Annelize
took it 9/5.
The break between games definitely served Natalie better as she came
back out in the third as she did in the first, taking the ball very
early with a lot of pace on the ball which seemed to be too much for
Annelize. This time Natalie kept up the volleying and won a quick third
game 9/2.
The fourth was similar as Natalie seemed determined not to let a repeat
of the second happen again, kept the pressure on and Annelize could not
stay with it and the fourth was a quick 9/1.
So, a second Nottingham re-run for Rachael, she'll be hoping for the
same result once again ...
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Weymuller photos from
Rachael Grinham |
13-Oct-06, Quarter-Finals:
[1] Rachel Grinham (Aus) bt [5] Sharon Wee (Mas)
9/4, 9/3, 9/2
[3] Engy Kheirallah (Egy) bt [7] Lauren Briggs (Eng)
8/10, 9/5, 9/1, 7/9, 9/7
[4] Annelize Naude (Ned) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
9/2, 9/4, 9/7
[2] Natalie Grainger (Usa) bt [8] Tricia Chuah (Mas)
9/2, 9/2, 9/6 |
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| [3] Engy Kheirallah (Egy) bt [7] Lauren Briggs (Eng)
8/10, 9/5, 9/1, 7/9, 9/7 |
Engy Edges out Lauren
Julian Wellings reports
This was easily the match of the night and of the tournament so far.
Lauren got a very good start taking a quick 7-1 lead by taking the ball
very early and dominating the ‘T’ with effective volleying. Lauren
applied lots of pressure with quick movement and early drops at the
front that Engy couldn’t get.
Towards the end of the game Lauren lost a little accuracy and this
allowed Engy to get into the match and show some deception and touch
around the front but it was a little late and Lauren managed to close it
out 10/8.
The next two games were all Engy who started to use the whole court to
work Lauren and now seemed to have a measure of her pace, while Lauren
struggled to find the form of the first part of the first game. Lauren
stopped using the drop and lost her length too which meant Engy was
doing less work and had complete control over the ‘T’.
It seemed that the fourth was going the same way as Engy raced to a 6-1
lead but Lauren started to find her length again, started to change the
pace and rediscovered her drop shot. As Lauren started to edge back Engy
started to look a little tired and found the tin a few times, Lauren
kept the pressure on and won the game 9/7.
Engy came out in the fifth very positive claimed back the ‘T’ and hit
three quick winners to help establish a 5-1 lead but Lauren didn’t go
away. Lauren kept with what had been working in the fourth and got back
to 5-5 as Engy started to look tired again. Inevitably nerves started to
play a part as the score went to 7-7 with less play to the front, some
more lets and it looked like each wanted the other to hit the tin.
Engy got to 8-7 but needed a third match ball to eventually close the
match after 92 minutes. |
[4] Annelize Naude (Ned) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
9/2, 9/4, 9/7 |
Annelize ends Italian run
This match was a reasonably comfortable win for Annelize but she had to
work in the third to put Manuela away.
The first looked a little like Manuela still had some of last night’s
effort in her legs as Annelize took advantage and quickly took the first
9/2.
The second was longer as Manuela started to find her way into the game,
the rallies got longer and Annelize was made to work a little harder.
It still seemed that Annelize had the sharper finish at the front that
could end the lengthening rallies more than her opponent and took it
9/4. It looked for a little while in the third that
Manuela was thinking about another comeback as she worked to a 7-4 lead,
the squash had got a little scrappy with a lot of cross court but
Annelize straightened up and took control when she needed it to win in
three. |
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12-Oct-06, Round One:
Manuela outlasts Latasha
in Brooklyn upset ...
Fiona Geaves reports from
Heights Casino
| [Q] Manuela Manetta (Ita) bt
[6] Latasha Khan (Usa) 9/7, 3/9, 1/9, 9/7, 9/6 |
Tonight's results saw one seeding upset
with Manuela Manetta playing her customary marathon, coming from
2-1 down to overcome the number six seed Latasha Khan 9/6 in the fifth.
 It
was the match of the evening, even though it was the last one to
start, and kept a very enthralled crowd watching with great appreciation
of stunning winners from both players as well as excellent retrieving from
Manuela.
At 8-3 match ball in the fifth Manuela looked in control, but some sudden
nerves and unforced errors gave a glimmer of hope for Latasha as she began
her comeback to 6-8, but eventually Manuela held her nerves and notched up
her best-ever career win to reach her first quarter final appearance in a
$25000 event. The fist in the air after the final shot showed the delight
at a well-deserved win for the young Italian.
Seven
seeds through
Amelia Pittock took the first game off Lauren Briggs 9/1 before going down
in four, and all the other seeds went through unscathed. The top two
seeds, Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grainger, looked very
ruthless in their performances, despatching their opponents in straight
games.
Local favourite Meredith Quick relaxed into her game in the third
and almost took it but eventually went down to Tricia Chuah from
Malaysia 3/0 to the disappointment of the local crowd. |
Heights Casino
 "After
playing such a good first game I had a total nightmare in the second
and third, just felt I had no idea what I was doing out there. I was
rushing my shots and hitting very loose balls and not getting enough
length which left Latasha with loose balls to chop in short with
drops or kills.
"I found a better length and played crucial points well to go 8-3 up
in the fifth, then I began to get too excited and began to make
mistakes and almost let her back in the game.
"This is my best win and I am in the quarter finals of a $25000
event, it feels great!"
Manuela Manetta
 "Manuela
played very well tonight, she played the bigger points well."
Latasha Khan |
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 Carol
Weymuller Open 2006
Heights Casino, New York,
09 - 14 Oct, $31.5k |
Round One
11 Oct |
Quarters
12 Oct |
Semis
13
Oct |
Final
14 Oct |
[1] Rachael Grinham
(Aus)
9/0, 9/6, 9/3
[Q] Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) |
Rachael Grinham
9/4, 9/3, 9/2
Sharon Wee |
Rachael Grinham
6/9, 3/9, 9/5, 9/3, 9/6 (85m)
Engy Kheirallah |
Rachael Grinham
6/9, 9/6, 9/1, 1/9, 9/4 (70m)
Natalie Grainger |
[5] Sharon Wee (Mas)
10/8, 9/2, 9/5
[Q] Chinatsu Matsui (Jpn) |
[3] Engy Kheirallah (Egy)
9/5, 9/3, 9/0
[Q] Louise Crome (Nzl) |
Engy Kheirallah
8/10, 9/5, 9/1, 7/9, 9/7
Lauren Briggs |
[7] Lauren Briggs
(Eng)
1/9, 9/4, 9/1, 9/1
Amelia Pittock (Aus) |
[Q] Manuela Manetta
(Ita)
9/7, 3/9, 1/9, 9/7, 9/6
[6] Latasha Khan (Usa) |
Manuela Manetta
9/2, 9/4, 9/7
Annelize Naude |
Annelize Naude
9/1, 5/9, 9/2, 9/1 (35m)
Natalie Grainger |
Runa Reta (Can)
9/4, 9/2, 9/1
[4] Annelize Naude (Ned) |
Meredith Quick (Usa)
9/4, 9/3, 9/7
[8] Tricia Chuah (Mas) |
Tricia Chuah
9/2, 9/2, 9/6
Natalie Grainger |
Suzie Pierrepont (Eng)
9/2, 9/1, 9/4
[2] Natalie Grainger (Usa) |
Qualifying:
Finals, 10-Oct:
Chinatsu Matsui (Jpn) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind)
10/8, 6/9, 10/8, 9/2
Louise Crome (Nzl) bt Georgina Stoker (Eng)
9/2, 9/5, 10/8
Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) bt
Aisling Blake (Irl)
9/6, 3/9, 9/2, 9/6
Manuela Manetta (Ita) bt
Dianne Desira (Aus)
9/6, 9/2, 3/9, 9/1
First Round, 09-Oct:
Chinatsu Matsui (Jpn) bt Samantha Teran (Mex)
9/10, 8/10, 9/3, 9/1, 9/7
Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Olivia Blatchford (Usa)
10/9, 9/0, 9/0
Louise Crome (Nzl) bt Neha Kumar (Can)
9/4, 9/0, 9/2
Georgina Stoker (Eng) bt Genevieve Lessard (Can) 9/2, 9/6, 9/2
Aisling Blake (Irl) bt Jenny Wright (Wal)
9/3, 9/3, 9/0
Nicolette Fernandes (Guy) bt Mami Nishio (Jpn)
9/0, 9/3, 9/2
Manuela Manetta (Ita) bt Julie Cerullo (Usa)
9/3, 9/0, 9/0
Dianne Desira (Aus) bt Fernanda Rocha (Arg)
9/1, 9/1, 9/1
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2005 Event
 11-Oct, Qualifying:
Chinatsu qoes through
in NY qualifying
Japan's Chinatsu Matsui scored a second successive upset to reach the main
draw of the Carol Weymuller Open in Brooklyn, New York.
Following up yesterday's win over qualifying top seed Samantha Teran, the
Japanese number one squeezed out a victory over Berkshire finalist Joshna
Chinappa, and now faces the Berkshire champion Sharon Wee in the main
draw. |
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"I
felt good again today. I was hitting the ball well and felt I was moving
really well. I’m always happy regardless of the result, as long as I’m
moving well and hitting the ball well! 
"I
was very focused in the first two games and felt good. In the third I
lost some patience and started going short too early which made for a
close finish. 
"I
fell during practice on Monday and injured my left wrist very badly,
even though this is not my playing wrist I didn't feel totally
comfortable on court as I was scared of bumping it during the match
which distracted me slightly on how I should be playing. 
"This
is the first time I have played Engy so wasn't really sure what to
expect. She takes the pace of the ball very well and has a very strong
short game. 
"First
time I have played Rach but I am looking forward to playing her again
already. 
"I
have never played Amelia before so didn't know what to expect form her
game. I knew I needed to move the ball around but I tried to force this
too much and ended up losing the focus on the basics in the first game.
