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TODAY at the British Open
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Mon
24th Sep, Day SEVEN - Finals & Masters
Finals
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[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus)
bt
[1] Nicol David (Mas) 7/9, 4/9, 9/3, 10/8, 9/1 (87m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [4] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/4, 10/12, 11/6, 11/3 (63m)
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Comeback queen Rachael
denies Nicol
What a match. What a comeback.
Immediately after finishing one of the most dramatic and gripping
matches I've ever witnessed, Rachael Grinham could only find one
word ... "Shocking!".
Others soon came to mind though - "my best ever performance", "my
most satisfying win ever". And in a poll of the packed audience at
Sportcity that gave the players a prolonged standing ovation at the
end, it's a fair bet most would tick the "one of ..." or "best ever"
box.
 It didn't start as a classic, and it didn't start well for Rachael.
4/0 very quickly, she managed to claw her way back to lead 7/4, but
a few untimely tins saw the momentum swing again as Nicol took the
game 9/7 after 17 minutes.
Another 4/0 start for the defending champion in the second, but this
time Rachael couldn't pull it back, Nicol doubling her lead, 9/4
after 14 minutes with Nicol seemingly firing on all cylinders,
Rachael struggling to keep in touch.
In their final in Amsterdam a few weeks ago Rachael had stopped
Nicol's flow by slowballing her, lobbing wherever she could, hardly
ever hitting hard, and for a while it worked, but Nicol soon caught
on and won in straight games.
In the third game here she started employing similar tactics here.
Not so much slow, but lob, lob, lob and lob again whenever in
trouble. They would play out the rallies, moving from side to side,
corner to corner, retrieving the irretrievable, and when it became
too tight ... lob, and start it all over again. And again. And
again.
And you could see the belief starting to infiltrate Rachael. In
Amsterdam she never believed she could win, she just tried to extend
the match. Now she started believing.
A lead of 4/1 was converted, 9/3 and after 14 minutes it was 2/1.
The fourth was amazing. 28 minutes of precise, gripping squash,
Nicol pushing, Rachael resisting. 4/0 to Nicol, 4-all. 5-all, 6-all,
7-all. Nicol's lob died at the back ...match ball, championship
ball, and she tinned a volley she would normally bury with Rachael
struggling to make ground.
 That was her only chance. Two more tins from Nicol, a drive that
left her stranded and it was two-all. 90 seconds? We all needed at
least a 10-minute break ...
It certainly looked as Nicol needed longer - as soon as the fifth
started Rachael was on top and on the offensive. 6/0 in a single
hand, three winners with Nicol nowhere in sight, unheard of.
When Rachael went 7/0 up the place erupted. Another fantastic
scrambling rally, Rachael lunged to retrieve a ball tight to the
right-hand wall and was still sitting there when Nicol's crosscourt
came back just above her head. From a sitting position she punched
the ball straight down the wall leaving Nicol stranded again and the
crowd in raptures.
There was no way Rachael could lose after that. Nicol got a serve,
got a point, but that was all. The ball was soon sailing past the
defending champion one last time, and it was the former champion who
would be having her name engraved on the trophy for the third time.
Shocking!
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""Shocking!
"It’s the best win I ever had. I already won two titles, but that
was a couple of years ago, and I haven’t won any major tournaments
since, and it was looking less and less likely that I would ever win
another one.
"In the first, I think I was just going for too much, clipping the
tin, which was annoying because yesterday, against Natalie, all
those shots were going in. So I thought it was unfair that today,
they wouldn’t.
"I felt quite focused, but I was a little slow in the beginning, not
as good as yesterday, but she wasn't actually winning that many
point, I was giving them to her.
"Then I thought, come on, the pressure is on her, make her work for
it, and I tried to make sure I didn't give anything away when she
was serving. Winning the third gave me a lot of confidence, and she
was not as quick as she was at the start.
"It's unusual for Nicol to be up and start losing, but I saw Natalie
Grainger come back at her so that gave me something to aim at, I
knew it was possible. The lobbing was just so as not to put it on
her racket, but she tired from I eventually, she takes so much
energy to keep going forward for the volleys.
"I lost a bit of motivation over the last couple of years, I
gradually started losing finals, then semis, then quarters – this
year I had a coup of first round losses, I thought c'mon, what are
you doing.
"I know it's a long time since I beat her, I knew I could beat her,
but the way my career was going I knew it had to be soon!
"In these tournaments, it’s one match at a time, but really, today,
it was just unbelievable, it must be my most satisfying win ever."
on the phone to Mum ... |
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[3] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [4] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/4, 10/12, 11/6, 11/3
(63m)
GREG TOO BRIGHT…
Thierry Lincou didn’t start this match well, but then again, when
does he?? So I’m sure that neither he nor his mate/opponent Greg
Gaultier took much notice of the result of the first game.
But soon it looked like, although Thierry was playing pretty good
squash, Greg was pretty much in control of the rallies, both at the
front of the court, his specialty, but also at the back, considered
to be Thierry’s territory.
The second game was monumental, 25 minutes, with the two men
starting to chat in French as Greg was unhappy with several calls
from the refs (“it’s three times you stitch me up”, “you’ve got to
stop this”, etc…). The tension mounted, as it always does when those
two battle on court, and ended on a kill backhand for the former
number one that rolled happily away, allowing him to equalise at
1/1.
 But
from that moment on, Greg was too fast, too accurate, too precise.
Thierry didn’t do anything wrong, but was not doing anything to
prevent his young friend from taking territorial control. His deep
game, too imprecise today, which normally allows him to contain
Greg, was not tight enough, and the more the rallies developed, the
slower Thierry became, and the more dominant the French number one
emerged.
The result was inevitable I’m afraid. Greg is a bit like a blotting
paper, you know, he absorbs everything he sees that’s got talent
written on it, and he took his own abilities, his speed and accuracy
at the front, added Jonathan Power's speed of shots, and now he’s
integrated Thierry’s tight at the back game. Lethal combination.
Thierry was not going to win against Greg tonight. I don’t know
honestly who would have. Greg is going to be a major player on the
World Tour.
Tonight is just the beginning.
 "I
was a bit flat tonight, I was so slow, I didn’t seem to be able to
move that well, especially in the first game. I did warm up too
much, that didn’t help, for sure…
"Greg was more in control, he dictated the rallies better than I
did. Also, he was very fast, and I was behind all the time. I just
couldn’t keep the pace up, and I lacked the consistency that would
have allowed me to keep the rhythm up.
"And he didn’t give me anything, he played clear squash, varying his
shots very well."
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"I almost want to cry, it’s incredible... Winning the British was,
with the World Open title, a dream of mine, and to this day, it’s my
biggest win ever.
"I’m glad I reached my start of the season’s goals, but foremost,
I’m so glad to be back after 10 months, playing at my best, with all
the troubles I’ve been through…
"This summer I’ve trained with Thierry, Wael, Renan, and it paid
off. I’m also happy that Thierry is back at his best, although you
need a winner and a loser, and tonight, I was the winner.
"Last time Thierry beat me, this time it’s me, next time, probably
flip a coin… It’s so hard to play against him, he is such a close
friend, we are always together on the tour, we share a room.
"Thierry was a big boost for my career, throughout my whole career,
and I’m grateful for what he brought into my life.
"I’m very happy."
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MASTERS FINALS
14.00 W55 Bett Dryhurst (Eng) bt Jean Grainger (Rsa)
9/5, 9/3, 9/0 (18m)
M70 Pat Kirton
(Eng) bt Lance Kinder (Eng)
9/4, 9/7, 9/2 (26m)
W40 Ellie Pierce
(Usa) bt Linda Winder (Eng)
9/4, 9/0, 9/3 (23m)
14.45 M45 Phil Whitlock (Eng) bt Mark Woodliffe (Eng)
9/7, 9/0, 9/4 (39m)
M60 Philip Ayton
(Eng) bt Trevor Wilkinson (Eng) 9/5, 9/5, 9/0
(22m)
M65 Mike Clemson
(Eng) bt Len Froggitt (Eng)
3/9, 8/10, 10/8, 9/0, 9/5 (40m)
15.00 M40 Lucas Buit (Ned) bt Fredrik Johnson (Swe)
9/3, 9/0, 9/3 (40m)
15.30 W50 Julie Field (Eng) bt Jan Miller (Aus)
9/5, 9/0 rtd (8m)
M55 Ian Parke
(Eng) v Ronnie Bell (Eng)
9/3, 9/3, 9/5 (28m)
16.00 W35 Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus) bt Claire Walker (Eng)
9/3, 9/0, 9/3 (24m)
16.15 M50 Peter Alexander (Eng) bt Duleep Adhihetty (Eng)
9/2, 9/7, 4/9, 9/7 (52m)
W45 Victoria
King (Eng) bt Tasmin Bennett (Eng)
4/9, 2/9, 9/7, 9/1, 9/2 (45m)
17.00 Nick (36 today) Taylor (Eng) bt Alex Gough (Wal)
9/4, 10/8, 9/5 (70m) |
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W40 Ellie Pierce
(Usa) bt
Linda Winder (Eng)
9/4, 9/0, 9/3 (23m)
 "It’s
a tough place, it’s a tough court, and I was lucky that it was
Linda’s first time out there. It’s nerve-racking, just
nerve-racking, everybody underestimates the difference between
playing all our matches on the traditional courts, and to arrive in
the final, on the glass court, with only 20 minutes' practice each.
But it’s the same for both of us.
"I’m so glad I did this last year, you are trying to pretend you
know what you are doing on the glass court, and this year, to walk
home with my first ever British Open title!
"And I will keep on playing in the event as long as my body will
allow me…"
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STILL BOUNCY…
 This morning, the “to become winner of the over 40’s” player Ellie
Pierce said to me “The masters, it’s the real life, compared to the
pros, with us, you see us getting tired…”
And
that’s so true.
But today, Fredrik Johnson went on running and running after Lucas
Buit's superb drop shots, and so many times a long rally ended with
a delicate backhand drop shot from the Netherlander that was just
that much too far for the Swedish.
Still, a very pleasant match, and two gracious players, one in
victory, the other in defeat…
 "Funnily
enough, although we were on tour together, we never played each
other.
"Lucas played very well, but as he said after the match, the court
suited him, whereas I like the concrete court.
"I’ve always been very determined to get to the ball on a squash
court, but I have slowed down a bit over the years. Still, I had a
good 80-minute match yesterday in the semis, I played well there I
thought.
"But today, what ever I did, he did better."
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 "I
was in denial for 5 years, I didn’t want to admit that I could get
into the Masters, but I decided to enter last year, but forgot, how
stupid is that, and here I am this year.
"I enjoy playing on the glass court, and I was lucky that the
schedule put me on there, because Fredrik is so bouncy, so fit, and
so running around, it would have been a different story on a
traditional court. I’m just lucky that the glass court suits me,
whereas even when we were on the tour, he already didn’t like it, he
always felt more comfortable on the traditional courts. I think I
would have probably won on the other one too, but it would have been
much tougher and much longer.
"I’m so happy to be fit today, I had a tight hamstring yesterday
after my match, a similar injury to what David had last night, but
without the same pressure of course! I had a good night of rest, but
still, I was never really comfortable getting in and out of the
right front corner. Thank God he didn’t notice it, I’ll tell him
after the match.
"We had a huge rally at 3/4 for him in the third, and after that, he
was a bit less bouncy. But at 2/0 and 7/3 down, he was still running
around and fighting. All credit to him, at 44, I’m pretty sure he’ll
win next year’s over 45."
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W55
Bett Dryhurst (Eng) bt Jean Grainger (Rsa)
9/5, 9/3, 9/0 (18m)
 "I've
been playing in the masters since I was 40, I remember winning on
the Perspex court at Wembley Conference Centre, beating Ann Manley,
I've played her so many times. I'm 60 now and I haven't missed many
years, and I also won the World O45s in Vancouver and the Masters
O50 in Jo'burg and Sheffield, but was runner-up to Ann in Capetown
last year.
"The World Masters are in New Zealand next year, so I'm keeping fit
for that and there's a few things I need to work on …"
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M60
Philip Ayton
(Eng) bt Trevor Wilkinson (Eng) 9/5, 9/5, 9/0
(22m)
"It was the first time in the O60 for both of us – I won the O55 for
the last two years, but I haven't played too many times in the Open,
finishing on a Monday makes it a bit tricky if you've got a
full-time job, so I've tended to play more in the Nationals which
finish over the weekend.
"I'm retired now though, so I'll be back …"
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King comeback stops Bennett |
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M55 Ian Parke
(Eng) v Ronnie Bell (Eng)
9/3, 9/3, 9/5 (28m)
 "At
last, a first title after all these years hacking around on the
Masters circuit! I lost a Nationals final ten years ago, and made
world masters semis in Jo'burg and Helsinki, so it's great to
finally win one.
"I don't get too many chances to compete these days as I'm linving
in Berno in the Czech Republic, teaching squash. It's a bit like in
Western Europe in the 80s, new centres are springing up and there's
lots of new people keen to learn, it's quite refreshing.
"And we have a new Parke coming
onto the scene soon, Anna - Czech name Anna Parkikova - is four,
although she may take up tennis as the Czechs are also very keen on
that.
"Now I'm going to text Simon in Los Angeles to tell him I've got a
title he hasn't got – British Open …"
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M45 Phil Whitlock (Eng)
bt Mark Woodliffe (Eng) 9/7, 9/0, 9/4 (39m)
"I don't play in the Masters every year - I won the Over 35 title at
least once, and I beat Freddie in the final of the O40, but it took
me about four years to recover from that match! But it's nice to win
the O45 at my first attempt …"
"Oh well, that's me the ex-defending champion then, but he was just
too strong, and my Dad still has more titles than me …"
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Alexander's title |
Am I old enough yet? |
Clemson comeback |
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W35 Sarah Fitz-Gerald (Aus)
bt Claire Walker (Eng) 9/3, 9/0, 9/3 (24m)
 "I
played Sarah in the final of the English Grand Prix, so the nerves
were not as bad, I was a bit more relaxed, and I thought that this
court was more true, I was more comfortable on it today.
"Today, I decided not to get myself intimidated by Sarah, but just
to get on there to play my game, which is a good drive and depth
when I have the time, and also taking the opportunity at the front.
And against Sarah opportunities are very few and far between, so
you’d better take them when you can…
"And for the ladies out there who feel intimidated by the presence
of Sarah in the tournament, just tell yourself that we don’t
participate to a tournament to win it, but to do well.
"And there are so few opportunities in life to play against Sarah…
And it’s great fun!"
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Nick (36 today) Taylor (Eng) bt Alex Gough (Wal)
9/4, 10/8, 9/5 (70m)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mr TAYLOR
A long battle, 70 minutes for three games, a surprising one, between
Birthday Boy Nick Taylor, Manchester’s Golden Boy, whose influence
and impact on the squash roots in the whole region has been huge for
years now, and Mr Will-Not-Say-Die Goughie himself, trying to defend
his title earned the previous year against Galen Le Cheminant.
But talk about gold, everything that Nick touched struck it then, I
tell you. He couldn’t do anything wrong, could Nick. Boast, drop
shot backhand, volley, and lob, lob, lob, what a touch, what a
clever game. And so focused, so concentrated, such a positive and
winning attitude….
A bit tired with a long week of hard work and extenuating meetings
that took him early morning most days, our Goughie did his best
against a hyper motivated Taylor today. Didn’t do anything wrong, at
all, but Nick was not letting this title getting away from him on
such a day, his 36th’s birthday, and no matter how Alex tried, top
spin, hitting hard, wrong footing, drives and lobs, nothing did.
Nick was a Manchester man on a mission.
They say it’s always the one who wants it more that gets the cake…
You know what? Spot on.
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"It’s fabulous, it’s
wonderful to win this, I don’t want to show Goughie too much how
excited In am, we are very close, I know what it means to him, and I
know what it means to me. And to win this in front of my home crowd,
so delighted to win this…
"I can’t believe how well he is playing, still a top 20 player, “at
his age”!!!!!
"This British Open is such a major event, maybe not in money, but in
prestige, and yesterday I was on court with Jahangir, who was and
still is my hero, it’s such a privilege.
"And no matter if it’s an Open title, or the over 35s, or the over
75s, it’s such a special event that means so much to us…"
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"Nicol
knew what she had to do, but from the third game on she wasn't
controlling Rachael any more, she was opening up the court too much
and you can't do that against anyone at the top five level. Rachael
took he opportunities and took them well, all credit to her. 
History
will be written twice tonight.
