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 Seoul Women's Open 2008
Seoul, Korea
Semi-Finals
Jal moreuget-neun deyo. The Korean phrase for I don't understand. But while the local enthusiasts would turn to these words when the visiting players spoke, as they watched them let their rackets do the talking the Korean spectators saw the fluent language of squash.
In front of them at the Seoul Plaza glass court were the current world number one and world champion. Nicol David and Rachael Grinham. Of a size and form that the local girls could relate to, but playing to a level beyond their imagination.
The semi finals of the Seoul Women's Open saw them playing two of the current crop of aspiring English girls. Seeded seven and eight, Alison Waters and Laura Lengthorn-Massaro had a perfect record against their respective opponents. Perfect zeros. David 6, Waters 0; Grinham 5, Lengthorn-Massaro 0.
The players would face challenges on court but first they would need to reach Seoul Plaza, the central square that is the heartbeat of the city. It was Memorial Day, a public holiday and traffic was barred close by. Police whistling instructions, loudspeakers blaring as the protesters were still in evidence, and all the while people were milling around in great numbers. Some carried candles, others placards. Police and army formed lines to maintain specific areas clear. Reminiscent of a soccer crowd, the noise and movement was enthralling. And for the players not a problem to block out – especially as the arena, seemingly like a fortress repelling invaders, was full of voluble spectators who were enthusiastically getting into the action.
Rachael Grinham (Aus) (2) beat Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Eng) (8) 6/9 9/6 9/4 9/5 (61m)Lengthorn-Massaro came first. The eighth seed had been serially exceeding her seeding position this year as she broke into the WISPA top ten for the first time at the start of this week, and she had done so again here by making the last four.
And judging by the calm way she was managing the business of subduing Grinham in the first game even more progress was possible. The world champion did seem a little hesitant going forward, perhaps feeling out her back strain. But maybe she was just playing a little loose.
Whatever the reason, there was more of a flow as the match went on, more play at the front where she is most deadly, and eventually total control by the time she had gone two games to one up. The daily physio treatments had kept her in the event right through to the last day – somewhat better than her first round exit to Shelley Kitchen a year ago.
Not surprisingly, after the match she was in buoyant mood. ‘Considering that I very nearly pulled out on the first day I was pleased to win the first match. Getting through the quarters was my best result of the year! And now I have made my seeding a picked up a few ranking points. It's about time I did this year!’ she said.
But for every happy winner there must be a disappointed loser. It was not that the English girl played badly, just that she was not able to maintain her shape for long enough periods. ‘I just wanted to take the game to her, and in the first game I did that’ she explained. ‘Then I became a little too reactive and got dragged into a short battle’.
 Nicol David (Mas) (1) bt Alison Waters (Eng) (7) 10/8 9/7 9/5 (44m)
Would her England team mate Alison Waters fare better? The local Malaysian community were back, competing with the sing-an-anti-government-song ensemble beyond the stands. It would have to be called Seoul Music, of course! For a while they were quiet as Nicol David was on the end of an early attacking phase from Waters. Building rallies but slotting drops. Taking it early but finding the back corners. The seventh seed got to 8/4 up in the first …..but then who doesn't get up against David early on? It seems to take going behind to sting her into action. Back she came with longer error free rallies to take the game.
The story repeated itself in the second where a Waters 7/4 lead was whittled away at. And though the third started evenly David slowly pulled away to complete the job.
If she lets Grinham get into big leads she could find herself games down, and this is the feature that Waters dwelt on afterwards. ‘I was disappointed to lose 3/0 after being well up in the first two. It was annoying not to get a game. While I was patient in the rallies and put it in short when it seemed right, Nicol played the big rallies better than I did and that is what I need to work on’, she said.
As for the winner, she had been impressed with her opponent. ‘She played really well and was attacking right from the start so I needed to play well. Fortunately I got into my rhythm even though it took me a while to get in there.’
For all the semi finalists and other players too, their next task was to deal with the line of autograph hunters snaking around the court. Along the table of WISPA girls they went. A Japanese lady reached Nicol David, told her that she had all her event DVDs and was now so pleased to watch her live for the first time. And she went away with the players’ signature too.
Tomorrow we see whether the world champion or world number one will prevail. They haven't played this year until now so something to savour. Memories of past meetings are littered with great moments.
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