Lincou & Atkinson Charge Into European Finals in Belgium

Dutch and French winners of the European Individual Championships' titles are assured after Thierry Lincou and Vanessa Atkinson claimed unexpected places in the finals of the European Squash Federation event at the expense of English opponents at the Flemish Squash Center in Herentals, Belgium.

Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the former world champion and world number one from Marseille, secured his first victory over world No6 Nick Matthew for almost three years when he beat the second seed from Sheffield 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 in 65 minutes.

"I hear that some people say that I don't attack enough, that my game compared to the Egyptians is not as flamboyant, I don't play that many nicks, that I play 'the old squash' way," explained Lincou to www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards.

"Well, I do attack - another way, that's all. And I think I probably showed it today, by finding some good short game, by mixing the shots, high, low, in the front, at the back - but still, as ever, it's my length that saves me. That's where I win the match.

"In the first game, he was in total control of the T, so I forced myself to take the ball earlier, to play faster, and I was lucky, all my shots went in."

In a repeat of last year's final, 33-year-old Lincou will face national rival Gregory Gaultier, the favourite from Aix-en-Provence who is now one step away from winning the title for a sixth successive year. In a game which also lasted more than an hour, the world number two beat Laurens Jan Anjema, a 5/8 seed from the Netherlands, 5-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-9.

The men's final is sure to be a close-fought affair, with the French duo poised on ten wins apiece in their career head-to-head tally!

Vanessa Atkinson, also a former world champion and world number one, pulled off one of her best victories in recent times when she upset world No7 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, the No2 seed, 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 in 44 minutes to reach the women's final for the first time since winning the title in 2005.

"It's nice to play well, and still be able to compete at that level," said the 33-year-old from The Hague who is studying for an English Literature degree in Leeds, England. "If I had lost today, I would have been disappointed, but still happy I was able to compete at her level - it's nice to feel that fire in the belly.

"Laura is a strong and fit player, she had some pretty good results lately. It's a good win. She is motivated, something I'm struggling with at the moment," added Atkinson.

The 11 times Dutch National champion will now face her new national rival Natalie Grinham, the former Australian who became a Dutch national last year and is competing in the event for the first time. Favourite Grinham beat France's 3/4 seed Isabelle Stoehr 15-13, 11-8, 11-6.

"The first game was crucial - especially for Isabelle, I think," said Grinham, the world No4. "It was a big mental blow for her. Not so much for me, fitness is not so much of a problem; I know she is recovering from injury. Only thing, after winning that game, I was able to play more freely."

"Tomorrow, it will be a good day for Netherlands - number one and number two playing in the final!"

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5/8] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 5-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-9 (67m)
[3/4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [2] Nick Matthew (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (65m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [3/4] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 15-13, 11-8, 11-6 (38m)
[3/4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [2] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 (44m)