British Bid Blown In Belfast World Open

The British bid for success in the Women's World Open Championship was dashed in the first three matches in tonight's quarter-finals at the Ulster Hall in Belfast when England's Tania Bailey and Laura-Jane Lengthorn - and Irish hope Madeline Perry - were each blown away in straight games in the biggest ever squash tournament in Northern Ireland.

Bailey, the British National champion from Stamford in Lincolnshire, was the first to fall - beaten 9-5, 10-8, 9-5 in 56 minutes by Australia's fourth seed Natalie Grinham.

Grinham, the 28-year-old Queenslander who won a record three gold medals in the Commonwealth Games earlier in the year, raced to an 8-1 lead in the opening game - but seventh seed Bailey saved three game-balls before her opponent finally moved one game ahead.

In the second Bailey had her own game-ball at 8-7, but the Amsterdam-based Australian came back to claim a 2/0 lead.

Despite leading 4-1 in the third, Bailey was unable to stop Grinham claiming victory after her second match-ball.

"I was so focussed on what I had to do," said the younger Grinham sister. "I was prepared for five games."

A downcast Bailey admitted later that it had been a tough match: "But I thought I played quite well and was disappointed not to get the second game - there's such a big difference between one-all and two-love down."

Grinham will face name-sake Natalie Grainger after the USA number one ended the Irish dream of home success by beating eighth seed Madeline Perry.

Grainger, the former world No1 fighting back to form after a lengthy layoff resulting from a hamstring injury, raced out of the blocks to build up a 6-0 lead before Banbridge star Perry registered on the scoreboard.

Despite vociferous support from a packed partisan crowd, Perry was always on the back foot and after 32 minutes succumbed to a 9-2, 9-4, 9-5 defeat.

"I'm gutted," said the seven-times Irish national champion to the media throng afterwards. "I really thought I could win - it was a brilliant opportunity for me to get into a world semi-final.

"But she just played too well for me. She was absolutely flying. When she's playing well she's pretty intimidating - and she was playing well tonight!

"I was really excited about the match and looking forward to it - perhaps I was trying too hard.

"To have the opportunity to play the World Open in your own country is an experience I'll never forget," concluded the 29-year-old.

Grainger, the 14th seed, admitted she had been "fired up" for the match.

"I really had to make sure I was firing on all cylinders from the word go - and then maintain that level and speed.

"I was quite looking forward to playing in front of Madeline's crowd - but I knew she'd be under pressure, and I did try and use that to my advantage! My coach told me between games to make sure that I wasn't being too nice on court - it's a matter of being competitive," said the 29-year-old from Washington DC.

Natalie Grinham was joined in the semi-final line-up by her older sister Rachael Grinham when the 29-year-old third seed defeated England's rising star Laura-Jane Lengthorn, the No11 seed, 9-2, 9-3, 9-6 in 34 minutes.

In their previous meeting, Grinham had faced a first round exit in the British Open in Nottingham where the 23-year-old from Preston held match-ball against the experienced former world number one. But Grinham prevailed to reach the final.

"Laura's playing really well at the moment - so for me to have a win like that makes me feel very happy," said Grinham senior, the Cairo-based world No3.

"Now that I've reached my seeding, I can go on court tomorrow relaxed - with nothing to lose."

Grinham senior will face world No1 Nicol David, the defending champion from Malaysia who defeated Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy 10-8, 9-2, 9-4 in 36 minutes.

"Nicol's the one to beat, so that's really an aim of mine. I want to beat Nicol David," said a defiant Rachael Grinham.

Favourite David was made to work hard in the first game against her Egyptian opponent, a regular rival in their junior days. The Malaysian forged a 5-1 lead, but Kawy fought back to reach game-ball in a single hand before David finally secured her 1/0 lead.

"She gets into the game straight away - with me, especially," explained the 23-year-old from Penang afterwards. "I knew I had to get that first game - and after I won it, she didn't get the momentum again.

"My focus was there in the second and third games - and I finished it off."

When asked how she felt about her game at the moment, David replied: "Everything is geared up for this tournament.

"It'll be a big match tomorrow with Rachael - we've played each other so many times.

"I'll have to get my game on top notch - and keep her out of her comfort zone."

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 10-8, 9-2, 9-4 (36m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [11] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) 9-2, 9-3, 9-6 (34m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-5, 10-8, 9-5 (56m)
[14] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-2, 9-4, 9-5 (32m)