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World Champs in Alexandrian Final |
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Alexandria Sports Club Open
Alexandria, Egypt
WISPA Reports
Although the squash enthusiasts of the Alexandria Sporting Club had lost their big hope when Engy Kheirallah was on the wrong end of an upset in the quarter finals, it was not held against Raneem El Weleily that she had moved to Cairo to study. So it was standing room only when the fourth seed took on world champion Rachael Grinham.
Their styles gel and the Egyptian tends to play well against the 'half Egyptian'. And when El Weleily raced into a six one lead in the first against a the unsettled Cairo resident of some seven years it looked like she would again do so. But she could only muster one more point as Grinham ducked and dived with more patience to take the first. Mistakes from the prodigiously talented but inconsistent Egyptian were awaited, and enough materialised for the second game to be secured too.
And while it was never a procession - El Weleily is far too good for that - amidst the welter of creative shot making and use of angles it was Grinham who was both adding a planning element and points to her total, with the third game going much the same way as the first two.
As far as Grinham was concerned it was a no let decision when she expected a stroke that turned the match. At the 6/1 in the first game she was convinced that her opponent was in her line of fire. 'I was too casual and defensive. I had not intended to give her easy shots, but when I got that call I got really fired up and put some power on the ball and started to play better. Once I upped the pace she couldn't do so much', she commented.
For El Weliely, 'It was a huge disappointment but on the other hand maybe I wasn't quite ready. I love playing Rachael but tonight it didn't quite work out', she said.
Two former world junior champions, a gap of ten years, and maturity told.
The second semi final posed the question of whether the Au-some run of the Hong Kong junior would end. Opponent Vanessa Atkinson has looked fit, sharp but at times fragile latterly.
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Certainly the first game was tight, with Au maintaining her repertoire of solid defence coupled with astute movement towards the ball, volleying with alacrity and an aggravating boast. At nine all it turned on two loose short shots from Au that Atkinson was able to pounce on and slot into the nick.
From that point Atkinson seemed to up the pace, stop Au from taking the front and generally imposing her own game.
Progress was serene and devoid of a destructive wobble until mid way through the third when a few errors crept in. It then became a battle of wills, and it was the vastly experience Dutch number one who played the better end game.
The resurgent Dutch star seemed at ease, as was borne out by her comments after the match. 'I was really nervous in the first rounds but I am now more relaxed and enjoying it. But Annie is a really clever player. She has a great forehand, good going forward and mature beyond her years'.
Looking forward to the battle of the world champions in the final she wryly added, 'I will be running and running, doing court sprints, trying to run everything down and hoping for the best!' Should be something special to enjoy.
More WISPA
Au Continues Fine Form
Q&A with Sarah Kippax - Part One
Get to Know ... Nicol David
Q&A with Alison Waters
Semi-finals:
Rachael Grinham (Aus) (1) bt Raneem El Weleily (Egy) (4) 11/6 11/5 11/4 (27m)
Vanessa Atkinson (Ned) (2) bt Annie Au (Hkg) 11/9 11/3 11/8 (28m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Laura Hill (ENG) 11-4, 12-14, 11-8, 11-3 (45m)
[4] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [7] Orla Noom (NED) 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 (23m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [3] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (68m)
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 11-1, 12-10, 4-11, 8-11, 11-8 (47m)
1st round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Laura Mylotte (IRL) 11-8, 11-3, 11-8
[Q] Laura Hill (ENG) bt [5] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, 14-12
[4] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-3, 11-4, 10-12, 11-9
[7] Orla Noom (NED) bt Elise Ng (HKG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
Annie Au (HKG) bt [6] Christina Mak (HKG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
[3] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [Q] Eman El Amir (EGY) 11-3, 11-8, 11-4
Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt [8] Alana Miller (CAN) 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [Q] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5
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