Grainger Coasts To Burning River Title

Top seed Natalie Grainger produced a ruthless performance to beat second seed Kasey Brown in the final of the Women's National City Burning River Cleveland Classic to successfully defend the $27,300 WISPA World Tour squash title at Cleveland Racquet Club in Cleveland in the US state of Ohio.

The US National champion from Washington DC had only lost 11 points coming into the final and had been in impressive form - as too had her Australian opponent, who had also yet to drop a game. The pair had never crossed paths before the Cleveland clash - and it was Grainger who was the first to impose herself on the match.

Grainger comfortably took the opening game and, at 8-0 up in the second game, made a couple of casual errors to give Brown four straight points and a small glimmer of hope. However, they were to be the last points that the 22-year-old from New South Wales was allowed as Grainger showed no mercy, winning 9-1, 9-4, 9-0 in just over 20 minutes.

The total points accumulated by all four of Grainger's opponents over the course of the week amounted to just 16 - exactly the same as the world No4 conceded in last year's final!

The Cleveland success brings Grainger's WISPA World Tour title tally to 17 - six of which have been won on 'home soil' since the former English player became a US citizen just a year ago.

David Fulton, Chief Executive of Sterling, a National City Company, was on site to present both players with their cheques. The 2008 champion was also presented with a diamond Oris watch from Piccione's jewellers.

Final:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [2] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-1, 9-4, 9-0