Grinham grinds out win as battling Brown bows out

16-Apr-2010 - Squash Australia

Toowoomba’s Rachael Grinham advanced to the semi-finals of the Cayman Islands Open women’s squash tournament on Grand Cayman when she beat English qualifier Sarah Kippax in four tough games on Thursday.
The third seeded Grinham beat the Englishwoman 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 to move into a semi-final showdown with Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David.
"That was very tough, very close," a relieved Grinham said later.
"I was disappointed to lose the first after having a good lead (7-1), but in the end I was a bit lucky to win it in four.”
Grinham goes into the semi-final with David as the rank outsider.
The last time the two met each other was at the same stage of the 2009 Cayman Islands Open, when David notched up her 22nd win over her Australian rival in 28 encounters.
Grinham, a former world number one, has not beaten David since the final of the 2007 British Open.
Fellow Australian Kasey Brown looked like causing an upset when she took the opening game against fourth seeded Irishwoman Madeline Perry.
But the world number six battled back to win another close match 3-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7.
“I'm really pleased to win that 3/1,” Perry said.
“I could feel her coming back at me towards the end so it was good to finish it off."
Perry takes on England’s Jenny Duncalf in the second semi-final.

Quarter-final results – prefix denotes seeding:

2-Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
4-Madeline Perry (IRL) bt 6-Kasey Brown (AUS) 3-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
3-Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
1-Nicol David (MAS) bt 7-Camille Serme (FRA) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6