Grinham Stands In Way Of French Double In Warsaw by Howard Harding
May 28, 2011-Dutch
champion Natalie Grinham burst into the women's final of the European
Individual Squash Championships at Squash City in the Poland capital
Warsaw - and now stands in the way of the second French double in the
European Squash Federation event in four years.
Winner of the title in 2009, Natalie
Grinham upset England's second seed Emma Beddoes 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 in 31
minutes to claim an unexpected place in the women's final.
The former world No2 from Almere,
who missed last year's event following the birth of her first child,
will now face French favourite Camille Serme.
The world No9 from Paris, bidding to
win the title for the first time, earned her maiden appearance in the
final after defeating Italian Manuela Manetta 11-6, 11-6, 11-6.
By contrast, the men's final will be
an all-French affair between Gregory Gaultier and Thierry Lincou for
the fourth year in a row.
Lincou, the defending champion
looking for his third successive title, ended the brave run of rising
Swiss star Nicolas Mueller - beating the 5/8 seed 11-6, 11-5, 1-11,
11-7.
"I think we can safely say it's my
best match since my return - not that I've played much mind you," the
former world number one told www.sitesquash.com afterwards. "But it's
really a great feeling, and I took a lot of pleasure out of this match,
something I was deprived of for the past five months.
"A full-on match, with good pace,
nice variations, and good attacks. Still needed a little breathing
space in the third, I'm still physically a bit short. In other words,
still more work to do, but at least, I can start seeing the silver
lining!"
Lincou, who celebrated his 35th
birthday last month, now faces national rival Gregory Gaultier, the top
seed who won the title five times from 2004.
The world No6 from Aix-en-Provence
marked his eighth successive appearance in the final by beating Dutch
men's champion Laurens Jan Anjema 13-11, 11-6, 11-6.
RESULTS: European Individual Squash Championships, Warsaw, Poland