Grinham & Atkinson In Seattle Title Bid - And More!

Australia's top seed Rachael Grinham and second seed Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, will meet at the Pro Sports Club in Bellevue, Canada, with more at stake than simply the title of the Women's PMI Seattle Open. The champion of the Silver 25 WISPA World Tour event will also be the next world number one.

Grinham, whose 14th successive month at the top of the rankings this month made her the fifth longest holder of this title, was fully stretched in her semi-final by England's unseeded Tania Bailey.

The Cairo-based Australian took the opening game and led 6-2 in the second. But Lincolnshire lass Bailey fought back to level the match after a 15-minute delay in the game while Grinham had treatment for a mild cut on her knee.

Grinham reclaimed the initiative in the third and played like the world number one she is. Bailey, however, threw everything she had into the fourth game - and, after winning it to even the score, took a commanding 5-0 lead in the fifth game decider.

But Grinham was not down and out as it appeared: The 28-year-old Queenslander forced her opponent all over the court before closing out the match 9-6 7-9 9-2 3-9 9-6 in a match lasting almost 90 minutes.

In the other semi-final, Atkinson faced third seed Nicol David, eager to make up for two Tour defeats this year by the Malaysian. David played aggressively in the first game and took a one-love lead.

But the Dutch world champion from The Hague changed her tactics in the second and started dictating the rallies by using a pace that she was comfortable with. Atkinson limited her opponent's options and ultimately strode to a 7-9 9-3 9-6 9-1 victory.

Grinham, seeking her 20th WISPA title, is celebrating her 32nd major final appearance, while Atkinson will be looking for her 16th title in her 27th final.

Semi-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Tania Bailey (ENG) 9-6, 7-9, 9-2, 3-9, 9-6
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [3] Nicol David (MAS) 7-9, 9-3, 9-6, 9-1