Natalie Upsets Sister Rachael To Reach Singapore Final

Natalie Grinham upset her older sister Rachael Grinham in today's semi-finals of the CIMB Women's Singapore Masters to earn a clash with title-holder Nicol David in a repeat of the 2007 final of the $53,500 WISPA World Squash Tour Gold event at the Kallang Squash Centre in Singapore.

It was the siblings' 21st WISPA Tour meeting since 2000 - but the first since last year's Hong Kong Open semi-finals when Rachael prevailed. The latest battle took 50 minutes, and Natalie - now ranked three in the world, ahead of Rachael - avenged her Hong Kong defeat to win 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8.

In the final, Grinham junior - now representing the Netherlands - hopes it will be her turn to put her mark on the world No1: "I will go out and do my best and run everything down and hopefully come out the champion."

The second semi-final, between favourite Nicol David and England's fourth seed Alison Waters, was an outstanding affair. "Long rallies, incredible shot-making, and superb retrieves that left the capacity crowd ooh-ing and aah-ing in delight," said event spokesman Joyce Poon.

Despite an exhausting 80-minute quarter-final last night against fellow countrywoman Jenny Duncalf, Londoner Waters gave her very best against the world's best player.

After dropping the first two games, Waters upped the aggression in the third and with it her accuracy. Shooting to a 4-0 lead, she did not relinquish her lead, winning 11-7.

The fourth game was all David, however, as the long rallies took their toll on Waters, with the Penangite running out an 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 winner.

Looking ahead to the final with Natalie Grinham, whom she beat in the 2007 title match, David said: "I played her last week in Kuala Lumpur, and beat her in the World Games final in Kaohsiung. We have some good matches together but knowing this is the final, I just want to give it a good go."

Asked if it's important for her to land the hat-trick here in Singapore, David replied: "For me it's just important to play well, and if I do play well, then the result will come."

Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 (37m)
[3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 (50m)