Top Seeds Through To Monte Carlo Final

Defending champion Vanessa Atkinson, the top seed from the Netherlands, takes on second-seeded Australian Natalie Grinham in the final of the Women's Monte Carlo Classic after contrasting semi-final victories in the established $31,000 WISPA World Tour event in Monaco.

In a 'topsy turvy' encounter with England's Alison Waters - voted WISPA's "Most Improved Player" for the past two years - Atkinson needed 41 minutes to prevail against an opponent who had won their two previous encounters, in the two recent British Opens.

The Dutch star, the former world No1 who has failed to achieve her seeding in four WISPA events since winning the Tournament of Champions in March, twice had to come from behind before finally overcoming fifth seed Waters 2-9, 9-4, 0-9, 9-2, 9-0.

"I assumed it would be hard as she is a player I have trouble with," conceded the 30-year-old from The Hague, now in her 33rd Tour final. "The lively court would suit her too as she hits hard and low.

"I like to move my opponents around but with the ball sitting up it was more like feeding so I had to try to be more patient!"

Atkinson, bidding to become the first player to retain the Monte Carlo title since Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald after the inaugural event in 1996, now meets Natalie Grinham - the in-form Queenslander who reached the final of the World Open in Belfast last month.

Grinham confirmed her place in the final after her third successive straight games win in the championship - beating unseeded Welsh champion Tegwen Malik 9-0, 9-3, 9-5 in 34 minutes.

The Netherlands-based 28-year-old has met Atkinson six times before on the WISPA Tour - but only beaten her twice, both times in Holland! But Grinham feels she is playing better than she was in March, when she won a record three gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne!

"I just hope that tomorrow I can play as well as I have in the last few days. I haven't played Vanessa in a WISPA event in ages," said the Australian on the eve of her 17th Tour final.

Semi-finals:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [5] Alison Waters (ENG) 2-9, 9-4, 0-9, 9-2, 9-0 (41m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Tegwen Malik (WAL) 9-0, 9-3, 9-5 (34m)