Natalie Grinham Claims Val de Marne Title by Sean Reuthe October 26, 2015
- Top seed Natalie Grinham lifted her second successive PSA World Tour
title with a 3-1 triumph over England’s Georgina Kennedy in the final
of the 2nd Tournoi International du Val de Marne, PSA W5 event.
The former World No.2 was magnificent in the early stages of the
tournament as she failed to lose a single game, with home hope Chloe
Mesic being put to the sword in the semi-final. Kennedy on the other
hand had dispatched number two seed Cyrielle Peltier in the
quarter-final before moving on to down compatriot Alison Thomson to
book her place in the final.
The experienced Grinham started the match on the front foot with the
37-year-old controlling proceedings in the first game to secure an 11-4
win. Kennedy didn’t give up though and, after some unforced errors from
Grinham, found herself back on a level footing after prevailing in game
two.
Grinham was back in control in the third though after some lengthy
rallies went in the Dutchwoman’s favour. Kennedy put up a good fight
but she was powerless to stop Grinham from pressing on to an 11-4,
5-11, 11-8, 11-6 victory in 41 minutes.
Her win in Paris represents a remarkable return to form for Grinham
who, after enduring a barren spell in 2014, has now lifted two PSA
World Tour titles this year in addition to reaching the final of the
Tournament of Pyramides four months ago.
