Nicol David & Natalie Grinham To Contest Belfast World Open Final

Defending champion Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who today stretched her unbeaten run to 32 international matches since losing to Natalie Grinham in the Commonwealth Games in March, will meet the Australian in Sunday's final of the Women's World Open Championship at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

Grinham, the 28-year-old Queenslander who went on to win a record three gold medals in the Melbourne Games in her home country, beat Natalie Grainger of the USA in the first semi-final.

Grainger, a former world No1, was seeded 14 in the event after slipping down the rankings following a troubled two years suffering with a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old from Washington DC made a magnificent comeback on the all-glass court at Ulster Hall, however - first upsetting second seed Vanessa Atkinson, then local star Madeline Perry, the No8 seed, en-route to the last four.

Despite having a game-ball in the second game, hard-hitting Grainger was unable to make the breakthrough she hoped for against the nimble-footed Australian, and eventually went down 9-4, 10-8, 9-6 in 45 minutes.

"We had a very close second game - which I think was very much make or break for her," said the younger Grinham sister. "I was happy to take that game.

"It was a great crowd - who obviously appreciate their squash," added the fourth seed.

Grainger admitted that the week had gone well for her: "Overall, I'm very happy - but I came here to win, so I'm disappointed not to - but at least I feel I'm playing to world top four standard now.

"Mentally I feel a lot stronger," concluded the US star who now heads to South Africa, the country where she was raised, before returning to the US Tour in January. "I gave everything I had today."

Nicol David faced the older Grinham sister Rachael Grinham in the other semi-final - and, in a close-fought battle unrepresented by the scoreline, beat her long-time rival 9-7, 9-1, 9-1 in 46 minutes.

Grinham senior, the world No3 who was hoping to end her run of ten defeats to David since July last year, led 4-3 and 7-3 in the long first game. But the pint-sized Malaysian ran her opponent into the ground to claim her anticipated victory over the third seed.

"The rallies were so long in the first game - I just had to break her rhythm," said David, 23, from Penang. "But it was only by the third game, when Rachael made a few errors, that I began to feel confident that I would win.

"I feel I've been playing better with each match here in Belfast. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to play as well - if not better!

"I'm expecting a long game," concluded the title-holder.

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-7, 9-1, 9-1 (46m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [14] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-4, 10-8, 9-6 (45m)