WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Jackman Bids For First Texas Open Title

England's world No1 Cassie Jackman is seeded to win her first Women's Texas Open title next week when the $42,500 WISPA World Tour event, in its third year, gets underway in Houston, USA, on 1st April.

Runner-up two years ago, Jackman will be competing in her first event since marrying Australian Matt Thomas in her hometown North Walsham, in Norfolk, earlier in the month.

Staged alternately in Houston and Dallas, the event is the third WISPA Gold event this year offering Qatar Airways Grand Prix points.  It has attracted the world's leading women, - except the USA's Natalie Grainger, the world No4 and runner-up in Dallas last year, who is recovering from illness.

Jackman meets a qualifier in the first round at Houston's Met Club and is scheduled to face Australia's second seed Rachael Grinham, in the final on Sunday 4th April.  Grinham, winner of the year's first WISPA Gold event, the Kuwait Open, takes on Egypt's world junior champion Omneya Abdel Kawy in her opening match.

Vanessa Atkinson, the world No3 from the Netherlands, is the third seed.  Winner of the Qatar Airways Challenge in February, Atkinson faces a qualifier in the first round in Houston.

1st round draw:
[1] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Qualifier
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[6] Linda Charman (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier
[5] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v Vicky Botwright (ENG)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)