Aussies & Kiwis Dominate World Doubles

Tasman neighbours Australia and New Zealand dominated today's quarter-finals day at the 3rd WSF World Doubles Championships with the two countries claiming all twelve semi-finals berths at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia

The highlight of the day was the historic encounter between Kiwis Campbell Grayson and Martin Knight and the South African pair Rodney Durbach and Adrian Hansen. Organisers have been advised that this gruelling two-hour-and-thirty-six-minute contest is the longest doubles match ever played at a major international championship. The unseeded New Zealand youngsters prevailed 9-5 9-6 6-9 13-15 9-6 to set up a semi-final against Men's Doubles favourites Anthony Ricketts & Stewart Boswell, of Australia.

Australian Open singles champion Rachael Grinham maintained her defence of both the Women's and Mixed titles she won in India in 2004. With fellow Aussie Amanda Hopps, she demolished the Aussie duo of Lisa Camilleri and Kelly Fowler 9-1 9-6 9-3 in the women's event - and, partnering Joseph Kneipp, took out compatriots Melissa Martin & Dan Jenson 9-1 9-5 9-3 in the Mixed quarter-finals.

The major upset of the day was contrived by five times World Open champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald who teamed with former Australian international Robyn Cooper to oust third-seeded Australian pair Amelia Pittock and Melissa Martin 9-4 9-5 9-5 to set up a semi-final clash with the top seeds Grinham and Hopps.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Anthony Ricketts & Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [5/8] Paul Price & Timothy Manning (AUS)
9-3, 9-5, 9-5
Campbell Grayson & Martin Knight (NZL) bt [5/8] Rodney Durbach & Adrian Hansen (RSA)
9-5, 9-6, 6-9, 13-15, 9-6
[3/4] Cameron White & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [5/8] John White & Harry Leitch (SCO)
9-3, 7-9, 9-1, 9-2
[2] Dan Jenson & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [5/8] Daniel Sharplin & Kashif Shuja (NZL)
9-7, 9-3, 6-9, 9-5

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham & Amanda Hopps (AUS) bt Lisa Camilleri & Kelly Fowler (AUS)
9-1, 9-6, 9-3
[5/8] Robyn Cooper & Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [3/4] Amelia Pittock & Melissa Martin (AUS)
9-4, 9-5, 9-5
[3/4] Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) bt [5/8] Kasey Brown & Dianne Desira (AUS)
7-9, 11-9, 6-9, 9-2, 10-8
[2] Lara Heta & Louise Crome (NZL) bt Diana Argyle & Tenille Swartz (RSA)
5-9, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5

Mixed quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [3/4] Melissa Martin & Dan Jenson (AUS)
9-1, 9-5, 9-3
[5/8] Lara Heta & Callum O'Brien (NZL) bt [5/8] Kasey Brown & Paul Price (AUS)
4-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-4
[5/8] Amelia Pittock & Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [5/8] Diana Argyle & Craig van der Wath (RSA)
5-9, 10-8, 9-5, 9-6
[2] Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson (NZL) bt [3/4] Dianne Desira & Cameron White (AUS)
11-9, 9-7, 9-7