Home Town Hero Grant Grabs London Open Title
by Howard Harding

16 December 2013 - Adrian Grant became the first Londoner to win the Coronation London Open title when he beat Chris Simpson in the all-English final of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event in its sixth year at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club in the England capital.

The London-born-and-bred 33-year-old, who was making his debut in the event, made his breakthrough in the previous round where he upset second-seeded South African Stephen Coppinger.

Seeded three, World No.23 Grant faced fellow countryman Simpson - a 26-year-old from Guernsey, ranked just two places lower, to whom he had never lost in three Tour meetings since 2009.

But fourth seed Simpson took the opening game, determined to make a career breakthrough.

However, the experienced left-hander Grant, a former World No.9 and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, turned the tables to take the next three games to win 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 in 60 minutes.

The title triumph brings up Grant's 20th Tour title - a feat matched, or bettered, by only 11 other players on the current PSA World Tour.

"I've known Chris for years," Grant told Kate Mason later. "We're great friends, on and off the court, we train together with the England squad - there's a mutual respect there.

"I know that he's improved a lot he's beaten a lot of people in the top twenty so you know I was wary about him. I had to focus 100 per cent. And I had a tough game yesterday and he had an easier game, you know so I had to really come out of the blocks quick.

"But the first game he came out quicker than me and I think as the match progressed I got stronger and stronger."

Simpson, who celebrated a career-high 21 world ranking in October, said: "I was disappointed not to finish the year on a win - but it's been a good year overall and I played some good squash this week.

"I felt like I was playing well for the first game and a half, then Adrian found a great length and was in charge for the rest of the match," added the runner-up as he headed back to Harrogate where he is now a proud first-time house-owner.

"It was a well-run tournament by Zubair Jahan Khan, who seems to have good aspirations of growing the tournament in the future."

RESULTS: PSA International 25 Coronation London Open, London, England

Final:
[3] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [4] Chris Simpson (ENG) 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 (60m)