Atkinson Is First Dutch World Open Champion

Vanessa Atkinson, the English-born world No3 from the Netherlands, beat Australia's Natalie Grinham in today's final of the KL Women's World Open Championship in Malaysia to become the first Dutch world champion in devastating style.

The third seed, who yesterday crushed Natalie's sister Rachael Grinham, the world No1, in just 22 minutes, brushed aside the fourth seed 9-1 9-1 9-5 in 33 minutes on the all-glass court at the National Squash Centre in Kuala Lumpur to win the sport's biggest prize.

It rounded off a glittering year for the 28-year-old from The Hague who has appeared in eight WISPA World Tour finals since February - and triumphed in each one!

"I love this court. I wish I could wrap it up and take it with me to every tournament," the tall redheaded world champion told www.SquashNow.com. "My head feels like cotton wool. I have no way of judging how I feel about becoming world champion. It is not something I ever really expected to happen.

"When people ask about ambitions and targets, it is easy to say you want to be world champion. Dealing with it actually happening is something else."

Unlike Atkinson, Natalie Grinham had endured a marathon semi-final encounter - an 87-minute five-game battle against local star Nicol David, which she later described as "the most gruelling match I have played in my career".

Ironically, the Netherlands-based 26-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland, is the last player to have beaten Atkinson in a WISPA final - in the Dutch Open in November 2003.

"Actually my game plan had nothing to do with the fact that Natalie would have to be tired," Atkinson added after her KL triumph. "You have to keep Natalie out of the front court to stop her attacking and you have to finish rallies cleanly to stop her using her speed against you.

"Last time we played, she beat me in the semi-finals of the (2004) Dutch Open, so this is not a bad revenge. Given the choice at the time, I would probably have chosen the World Open title."

Atkinson continued on SquasNow: "I think the hardest part might have been knowing Jahangir Khan was watching from behind the court. It is a bit intimidating with him watching everything you do," admitted the world champion. "But this tournament went perfectly for me and I hope this is just the first of many world titles for me. Next I want World No1. Then I want the British Open. Then I want the Grand Prix Finals. Then another World Open."

Final:
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 9-1, 9-1, 9-5 (33Sm)