RESULTS: Dutch Open, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Semi-finals:
[4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8 (45m)
[2] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [3] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 (42m)
Dutch squash star Vanessa Atkinson raised hopes of home success in the Women's Dutch Open when she upset top-seeded Australian Rachael Grinham to reach the final of the $25,300 WISPA World Tour event at Victoria Squash in the city of Rotterdam.
The 34-year-old from The Hague sneaked the opening game, but had to succumb in game two with Grinham senior, the world No5, moving her around just a little too much for her liking.
The third game proved to be decisive with the Queenslander leading most of the way, but Atkinson ultimately taking the honours. The fourth followed the same pattern with Atkinson clinching the final points after some spectacular rallies - closing out the match 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8 in 45 minutes.
The win takes Atkinson to the 41st Tour final of her career - and her third Dutch Open final since winning the trophy in 2002.
Her opponent will be Ireland's Madeline Perry who secured a hard-fought win over Dutch 'mum' Natalie Grinham, the defeated top seed's younger sister. The Irish champion took the first with ease, but was unable to stop the attacking play of her opponent in game two with Grinham junior levelling the score.
The third and fourth proved to be close affairs as Perry, the world number six, and Grinham, the former world number two currently ranked 67, traded shot for shot until the end of each of each game with Perry closing them out just a little bit better than the 2009 European champion.
Whilst Grinham can be happy with her performance, showing enormous improvements from her first tournaments as a recent mother, Perry can look forward to her 19th Tour final, but her first in the Dutch Open.
For all the latest news, visit the official event site: www.dutchopensquash.nl