Gaultier & Grinham Reclaim European Titles by Howard Harding
May 29, 2011-Former
champions Gregory Gaultier and Natalie Grinham survived four-game
finals in the European Individual Squash Championships at Squash City
in the Poland capital Warsaw to reclaim the European Squash Federation
titles they had won in previous years.
It was a historic climax for Frenchman Gaultier who was celebrating his
eighth successive appearance in the men's final and his fourth meeting
in a row with his illustrious compatriot Thierry Lincou.
Lincou, the former world number one who celebrated his 35th birthday
last month, ended Gaultier's run of five successive title triumphs in
2009 by winning the trophy for the first time - then repeated his win
last year.
But this was to be Gaultier's year - and the 28-year-old world No6 from
Aix-en-Provence, also a one-time world No1, recovered from a game down
to beat Lincou 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 in 54 minutes to win his sixth
crown.
"I'd like to thank the ESF and The Polish Federation," said the 2011
champion at the trophy presentations. "I remember when I came here
three years ago to play an exhibition at the club, and we were talking
with Wojtek (Kazimierowski - director of the Squash City club) and he
told us about the possibility of setting up this glass court here and I
think they did a great job.
"I think it's a dream come true for the club and the Federation for such a great plan."
The women's final also produced a triumphant outcome for the 2009
champion Natalie Grinham who was unable to compete in last year's event
due to the birth of her first child.
But exactly one year and one day after son Kieran made his first
appearance, the Australian-born 33-year-old from the Netherlands proved
that she is back as the top player in Europe by beating French
favourite Camille Serme 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5 in 46 minutes.
RESULTS: European Individual Squash Championships, Warsaw, Poland
Men's Final:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (54m)
Third place play-off:
[3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [5/8] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 12-14, 11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6 (73m)