RESULTS: internationalSPORTgroup British Open Squash Championships, Manchester, England
Women's final:
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 (39m)
Former champion Rachael Grinham reclaimed the title in the internationalSPORTgroup British Open -at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
Earlier, Australia's Rachael Grinham ended the dream run of Irish champion Madeline Perry to win the women's $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold title for a fourth time.
Perry, the first Northern Irish finalist in the history of the women's event, was unable to reproduce the form which saw her trounce hot favourite Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia, in the quarter-finals.
Grinham dominated the first two games and held match-ball at 10-6 in the third. But Perry stepped up a gear and saved four match balls to take the game into a tie-break.
However, the former world number one from Australia reclaimed the advantage to run out an 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 winner after 39 minutes.
"I was really focussed today - I couldn't have played any better," said Grinham.
"It hasn’t really sunk in yet. At the beginning of the week I was a few points from getting knocked out - I was lucky to get through," added the Queenslander, ranked four in the world.
"To win the British Open for the fourth time is not easy to do."
Both players head straight from Manchester to Amsterdam where the Forexx Women's World Open Championship gets underway next week.
"I have been having a lot of trouble with confidence all week - so having a result like this going into the Worlds next week should give me confidence."
Perry rued her missed opportunity. "I'm obviously disappointed - but if you're feeling a bit tired, the worst player in the world to play is Rachael Grinham.
"I didn't really get into it until the third game," explained the fifth seed from Banbridge, near Belfast.
Reaching the final was a remarkable achievement for Perry, who sustained a serious brain injury following mysterious fall in Milan just two years ago.
"That's behind me now. This week I've played the best squash of my life - I've reached another level.
"I'd rather not think about what might be in next week's World Open - I could have won the British Open if I'd played as well as I did in the previous two rounds."
Official website: www.isportgroup.com/BritishOpenSquash
