David Downs Grinham On The Shanghai Bund

Malaysia's Nicol David chose a unique setting to record her first ever win over Australia's world No1 Rachael Grinham - on the famous Bund waterfront alongside the Wang Pu River in central Shanghai, where today's semi-finals of the Shanghai WISPA WorldStars Championship provided a spectacular opportunity for squash to make its all-glass court debut in China.

The transparent court, owned by the Hong Kong SRA, was brought to the city under the auspices of the Shanghai Sports Commission - and four full stands of spectators on the Bund witnessed a major upset when Nicol David, the world No7 from Penang (pictured), defeated Grinham, who recently won her second successive British Open title, 9-7 9-7 3-9 10-8 in 47 minutes.

It was a sad day in China for the Grinham family as Rachael's sister Natalie Grinham, the fourth seed, went down in straight games in the other semi-final to England's No2 seed Cassie Jackman.

David started slowly against Rachael Grinham but at five-all in the first game begun to get accustomed to the slow pace of the court. A light but cold breeze swirled around the outside, while inside the court a good length was clearly a pre-requisite to avoid being stranded. Managing to do so led the Asian champion to an initial game lead in the match.

Neon lights on the buildings that make up the ultra modern skyline beamed out their advertising messages and river freighters boomed their elephantine horns as David recovered similarly in the second game to move from 4-7 down to another 9-7 win with a mixture of anticipation and fewer errors. She seemed to be reeling in the top seed.

The Grinham error rate was a little too high in the third as lobs spilled over the line and drops onto the tin at times. But despite all the inconsistency in her play, the 27-year-old Queenslander had been making the Malaysian run. From a close start the pattern changed, with the Australian taking over the front and counter dropping to maximum effect. From three-all she moved swiftly to take the game as David wavered.

In the fourth game, both compact battlers were still racing round the rectangle but Grinham was working positions more and moved into the lead; but only until a few forced errors enabled David to regain the initiative. So much so that she was poised for victory at 8-5 before losing hand with a missed forehand drop. A further match ball slipped by at 8-6 when a David cross court drive didn't clear the tin. Two audacious Grinham overheads took the game to setting, but one of the longest and most exciting rallies of the match ended with David putting away a drive to reach her third match ball. This time the Australian floated a cross court lob a fraction too high and wide and David was in the final.

The Malaysian's smile was nearly as wide as the Wang Pu as she excitedly told local TV reporters that it was the first time that she had beaten her opponent. "I played a good game and I went for it," she said. Waterside locations really suit her as the Malaysian had reached the World Open semi final a year before at the Hong Kong Harbour.

Grinham was philosophical about the defeat though. "I thought I was putting in some good drops but she kept getting them back. It was simply more her day than mine - she played well."

Within a short time of finishing her match against David, Rachael was back at courtside - this time in an advisory capacity for younger sister Natalie. But, despite a professed dislike of cool conditions, it was Natalie's opponent Cassie Jackman who started fast and kept going at pace - her trademark driving ferocious.

Grinham junior combines being arguably the fastest player on the WISPA Tour with great tenacity, but even she found the Jackman power and control too hot to handle. Time and again she would waspishly reach a ball at the front only to end up being driven or lobbed to the back or into a corner from which there was no escape.

Both the first two games saw some great all-court squash but only the former world number one was racking up points. The same was true of the third as Jackman continued the onslaught. "You are terrible," Grinham shouted to herself at one point. It was untrue, but she was playing somebody who was on fire.

Jackman reached seven in the third without reply, and though a match ball was saved she was not to be denied for long, courtesy of a wrong footing drive, as she secured her 9-4 9-1 9-2 victory in 33 minutes to reach her ninth WISPA final this year.

When asked about the match Jackman told journalists: "I needed to have a good length and not give her opportunities. I was happy with my game and pleased to be in the final."

Since it was the 31-year-old English number one who stopped David's waterfront progress in the semi-finals of the World Open last year, Jackman also has a penchant for the location!

Semi-finals:
[7] Nicol David (MAS) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-7, 9-7, 3-9, 10-8 (47m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 9-4, 9-1, 9-2 (33m)