 Seoul Women's Open 2008
Seoul, Korea
Final – 7 June 2008
A week of turmoil in Seoul, though not on the squash court. Yes, there had been a few upsets in the $60,000 Seoul Women’s Open, but there was a great deal of action outside too.
Nicol David (Mas) (1) bt Rachael Grinham (Aus) (2) 9/5 10/9 9/6 (41m)
At national level, President Lee Myung-Bak was facing a public backlash over a beef deal done with the USA. Those who disagreed had taken to holding public meetings to loudly protest; the meeting place being right next to the glass court arena set up in Seoul Plaza, the heartbeat of the city as it faces City Hall. They had taken place all week and would be thronged tonight it not being a working day. Thousands were on the square, clutching candles and signs.
So, not only was there the thwack of the rubber ball hitting the walls of the newly purchased ASB All Glass court, but a cacophony of sounds outside too. Literally thousands of police were deployed, speakers broadcasting speeches and music, and so much more going on. Very febrile indeed.
But while this sounds like a recipe for a cancellation, the players took it in their stride. Focused on their play, they hardly noticed, and it was more on a level of fascination that it was observed.
The crowds were out on finals night, but the crowds were in too. The stands were packed, national TV on the job and a sense of anticipation was clear.
 Both finalists are very popular amongst the local enthusiasts, so remove the Nicol David Malaysian fan club who were back in force and both players still enjoyed general voluble backing.
The rain was now a memory and the spectator covering removed, adding to the spectacle. Extra seating appeared too, much needed as the place was full and humming.
Rachael Grinham had managed to beat the odds which seemed to indicate a retirement before a ball had been struck, having recovered from a back muscle pulled while practicing at the Plaza.
A look at the head to heads indicated a weighting very much in favour of the Malaysian. She stood 17-7 ahead in WISPA Tour clashes, and while Grinham sensationally saved a match ball to win the British Open in 2007, her last victory before that was 14 matches ago in 2005. Add to that David having secured revenge by winning their last encounter in the Qatar Classic last November and purring along nicely now, the smart money was with her.
National TV was following the action in black and white, with Grinham clad in black.
Unlike so many opponents, Grinham starting taking David in short from the outset at every opportunity – and is superbly equipped to do so with her pinpoint drops from any length.
This ploy took her into an early lead which lasted until David began to go longer. Driving where she could or floating the ball high when taken short. Grinham was also firing high and wide so both players would need to scurry back before coming forward again.
The Malaysian was now in ‘hunting’ mode. Looking eager to pounce on the ball early keep Grinham away from the tee and generally stretch her – and her suspect back. Now, while Grinham was asking questions they were all being answered.
David was now one game to the good and looking set.
But as Grinham became a little more circumspect about when to go forward in the second she again went into a lead. The drops were still hitting their target, as were a few deceptive drives. Sometimes shots so lazily hit that she might have been gently waving away a fly. But very effective swatting.
 Yet another unread drop took her to 7/2 up, but as ever David seems to like to give her opponent a start. A challenge. Now she started to climb. 3/7, then 4/7, and up to seven all. Then on to 8/7. A tinned David drive and a Grinham winner squared the game before David got to 9/8, an outrageous long drop enabled the world champion to level again before a wide drive gave David the game. 7/2 down, 10/9 up. Cue Malaysian supporter eruption.
And it was the same story in the third. Grinham ahead, David regaining the initiative and level at six all before the Penang Powerhouse moved forward on a couple of clingers and finally took the match on a mishit drop that gave her the title. Apologising for the denouement, happy to have won and hugging the loser.
An explosion of colourful confetti, trophies given and the visitors and hosts alike reflected on a hugely successful Seoul Open mounted by the Seoul Squash Federation.
On the subject of reflecting, after the match Grinham summed up her performance saying, ‘I don’t think that I am going to win by playing length against Nicol’. When asked about the leads, ‘At 7/2 in the first she dug in more and in that game and the others maybe I was sometimes too eager to get in short’.
But bearing in mind her back problems early on, ‘I definitely cannot complain as I played much better than I expected at the beginning of the week. I am happy to have had an okay game against Nicol. And the crowd helps as they get really excited.’
The victor was asked about her opponent going in short on a regular basis. David’s response, ‘I sort of knew that it would happen. If it comes in it goes in. I couldn’t do much for a while until I could get her away from the tee’.
‘I was really excited to come back to Seoul. There is such a great welcome from everybody’
So David claimed her 28th Tour title, incidentally one more than Grinham; and is beginning to build an unbeaten run that may eventually match or exceed the thirteen months that ended at the Seoul Open last year.
 |
