Duncalf Downs Grinham In Grand Cayman Upset

Less than a week after upsetting world No4 Natalie Grinham in the final of the European Team Championships in Sweden, England's Jenny Duncalf again defeated her Dutch rival in a five-game marathon in the quarter-finals of the Women's Cayman Islands Open to claim a surprise place in the last four of the inaugural $37,500 WISPA World Tour squash event at South Sound Squash Club in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

Duncalf, the fifth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire, won the first game for just four points and had two game-balls in the second. But the gutsy fourth seed from Almere, winner of a record three gold medals for Australia in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, drew level - and went on to lead twice in the fifth game decider.

Undaunted, the two-time British National champion recovered the lead and battled to an 11-4, 13-15, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 victory in exactly one hour - recording only her third ever career win over former world number two Grinham.

"I started off well, but I could have done with taking the second - it would have been difficult for her to come from two down," explained Duncalf, 26, to www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards.

"In the third I went for more shots and hit a few winners. Maybe she was feeling the effects of the conditions then - I certainly did in the fourth, my energy levels went right down. It's just so hot, and there's no air to breathe.

"It was even at the beginning of the fifth, then she got ahead - but the crowd got behind me a bit which gave me a boost. I was so happy to finish it, it was a relief to get off there. It's a great atmosphere with the crowd and the kids, but it's probably the toughest conditions I've played in!"

Duncalf now faces US champion Natalie Grainger, the second seed from Greenwich who defeated Australian Kasey Brown, the No7 seed, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7.

There will be Grinham representation, however, in the other semi-final where Natalie's older sister Rachael Grinham, the third seed, takes on event favourite Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia.

Grinham senior recovered from a game down to beat surprise New Zealand opponent Jaclyn Hawkes 9-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 in 51 minutes. Unseeded Aucklander Hawkes made the quarters after upsetting sixth seed Isabelle Stoehr in the opening round.

"Jaclyn's improved a lot, and she's very good at getting everything back. She's got such a reach, you think she's struggling to get there but she comes back with a good shot," said Rachael Grinham.

"I made a few errors in the beginning, but was happy with how I played after that. I twisted my ankle in Heliopolis a few weeks ago, so yesterday was my first real test since then."

Nicol David, competing in her first Tour event since ending her 17-month unbeaten run in March, eased into the semi-finals with an 11-3, 11-8, 11-8 victory over Samantha Teran, the No8 seed from Mexico.

"I've been training with Samantha in Amsterdam, so it's nice to get on court and see how she's playing in matches," said David. "She's playing very well - that was a very tough match!

"It's fantastic how the crowd really get behind you here. I hope they carry on and that I can play better tomorrow."

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-3, 11-8, 11-8 (32m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (51m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [4] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-4, 13-15, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (60m)
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [7] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)