Graingers On Course For World Masters Family Double In Hong Kong by Howard Harding
July 9, 2014
- At opposite ends of the age range, former world No1 Natalie Grainger
and her mother Jean Grainger are on course for a family double at the
WSF World Masters Squash Championships in Hong Kong.
More than 750 players
from all corners of the globe are competing in 18 World Masters events
- from Men's and Women's Over-35 through to Men's Over-80 categories -
with action split between the Hong Kong Squash Centre and Hong Kong
Football Club.
In today's semi-finals
of the Women's Over-35 event, USA-based top seed Natalie brushed aside
South African Farrah Fenner 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 to set up a final against
second-seeded Australian Melissa Martin.
Meanwhile favourite
Jean downed fellow South African Dawn Kaiser to reach the Over-70 final
where she will take on compatriot Sheena Worwood in a bid to win her
fourth World Masters title after successes at O55, O60 and O65.
Australian Brian Cook
put paid to the chances of a Grainger treble when he defeated Jean's
husband Chris Grainger 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10 in today's Men's
Over-65 semi-finals. Top seed Cook will now face surprise opponent
Frikkie Bester, a 3/4 seed from South Africa, in the final.
Chris Grainger flanked by daughter Natalie and wife Jean
But Over-35 underdog
Melissa Martin will also have a family double on her mind while her
top-seeded husband Brett Martin is still in the running for the Men's
Over-50 title. The former world No2, competing in his first Masters
championship, despatched England's Eamonn Price in today's
quarter-finals and will now meet Singapore's Peter Hill for a place in
the final.
Australian Dave Fuller
became the only unseeded player to survive today's action unscathed.
The 55-year-old ousted England's 9/16 seed Dermot Hurford in the Men's
Over-55 quarter-finals and will now face fellow Australian Geoffrey
Davenport - the top seed who boasts two World titles at both Over-45
and Over-50 - for a place in the final.
RESULTS: WSF World Masters Squash Championships, Hong Kong China