RESULTS: Hi-Tec World Open Squash Championships, Manchester, England
Women's 2nd round (lower half of draw):
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [12] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-8, 11-2, 13-11 (33m)
[3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Annie Au (HKG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (27m)
[7] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [15] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 11-3, 11-1, 11-7 (25m)
[11] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
Manchester squash star Vicky Botwright, who has always failed to live up to expectations on her 'home' court at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity, pulled off a sensational upset when she beat defending champion Rachael Grinham in today's (Wednesday) second round of the women's event in the Hi-Tec World Open Squash Championships in Manchester.
The world's leading players from more than 30 countries are competing in the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008, the first ever joint staging of the Men's World Open and Women's World Open in the UK.
Botwright, the 31-year-old former world No5, recently announced her decision to retire at the world championships after accepting the role as Head Coach at the prestigious centre.
After dropping the first game, the local heroine battled back to beat the title-holder from Australia 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 in 47 minutes.
"That was certainly my best ever win," said the delighted 11th seed afterwards. "It's taken me ten years to get a result like this in Manchester.
"I've always under-performed here - I've been seeded in every position from one to eight in the Nationals here, but never got beyond the quarter-finals!"
The second-seeded Queenslander was almost speechless afterwards. "I just don't know what happened. I just didn't feel that comfortable - I never have easy games with Vicky, she's one of those players I've never really liked playing.
"I felt in control for parts of the game - but then I panicked, I just choked."
The former world number one admitted that she is still coming to terms with the new women's 'point-a-rally' Pro-Scoring system. "You start the game and, before you know it, it's half over - then you get into panic mode. I think it's going to take me a while to get use to it."
Earlier, on the first of two days of second round action, Botwright's two England team-mates Alison Waters and Jenny Duncalf eased into the last eight. Londoner Waters, the British National champion, crushed France's Isabelle Stoehr 11-3, 11-1, 11-7 in 25 minutes, while fifth seed Duncalf, from Harrogate in Yorkshire, defeated Australian national champion Kasey Brown 11-8, 11-2, 13-11.
Official site: www.worldsquash2008.com
