WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Nivea Body Irish Women's Squash Open, Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin

Final:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [8] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 10-8, 9-1, 9-3 (34m)

Atkinson Retains Irish Open Crown

Vanessa Atkinson, the world No3 from the Netherlands, successfully defended her title at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin with a commanding performance over England's Jenny Tranfield in the final of the Nivea Body Irish Women's Squash Open.

It took the top seed just 34 minutes to beat her surprise opponent Jenny Tranfield, the eighth seed from Yorkshire, 10-8 9-1 9-3.

Tranfield got off to a great start to go 8-0 up in the first game, forcing the pace and not letting Atkinson get into a rhythm.  The seven-times Dutch champion from The Hague eventually got her first score with a quick two-wall boast.  Atkinson clawed her way back to 4-8 and a good cross court drop saw her go to 5-8.

Tranfield was by now having to cover every inch of the court to stay in contention and seemed to be under constant pressure when she failed to get another boast up.  Atkinson got a lucky bounce to get to 7-8 and followed up by a short kill into the nick saw her level the game at 8-8.  The favourite again used her good cross court drop to get to 9-8 and game ball, then a superb piece of retrieving saw Atkinson get the chance to finish off the game with a straight forehand drop to win the game in 15 minutes.

Tranfield looked tired and was breathing heavily as she came off the court after conceding her first game in the tournament - and returned without apparently having recovered from her exertions in the first game.

The defending champion picked up where she left off, exposing Tranfield's uneconomical movement and, with a series of great volley drops and cross court drops, built up a lead of 7-0.  Atkinson now looked in a different class to her opponent, ranked 17 in the world.  The 28-year-old title-holder was using every inch of the court and another cross court drop saw her go 8-1 up. Atkinson then played another short kill to go 2/0 up after the nine-minute second game.

The third game proved a one-sided affair with Atkinson quickly building up a 7-3 lead while Tranfield struggled to keep up with the fast pace.  Atkinson then played another volley drop to hold match ball - however Tranfield played a good cross court drop to serve at 3-8, but then made an unforced error into the tin.

Atkinson went back to basics for the final point of the match, pinning Tranfield to the back of the court with great length which eventually produced an error to give Atkinson the title in 34 minutes.

With her eighth WISPA World Tour title in the bag - the third of this year - Atkinson now heads back to her base in Holland for a few days training before setting off to Qatar where she competes in the WISPA World Grand Prix Finals later this week