WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Bahrain WISPA Squash Classic, Bahrain

2nd round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG)  9-3, 9-5, 9-1 (38m)
[9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Pamela Nimmo (SCO)  9-6, 9-7, 9-2 (35m)
[3] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Annelize Naude (NED)  9-4, 9-0, 9-1 (27m)
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [5] Linda Elriani (ENG)  9-2, 9-0, 9-2 (30m)
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) bt [13] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)  9-3, 9-1, 4-9, 3-9, 9-6 (99m)
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [12] Vicky Botwright (ENG)  9-2, 9-1, 9-7 (33m)
[7] Nicol David (MAS) bt [14] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)  4-9, 9-3, 9-6, 9-4 (59m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [11] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)  9-7, 9-0, 9-2 (33m)

Bailey Bursts Into Bahrain Quarters

England's unseeded Tania Bailey showed signs that her injury problems are well and truly behind her when she crushed compatriot Linda Elriani, the fifth seed, for the loss of just four points in the second round of the Bahrain WISPA Squash Classic at the Al A' Ali Mall in Bahrain.

Laid low by a prolonged bout of illness and injury since achieving a career-high world No4 ranking 18 months ago, Bailey has struggled to rediscover her former form.  But the 24-year-old from Stamford in Lincolnshire, now ranked 19 in the world, despatched Elriani 9-2 9-0 9-2 in 30 minutes to claim an unexpected quarter-final berth.

A shocked Elriani could offer no explanation for her poor display afterwards:  "No excuses, no reason. I can't remember the last time I played so badly.  It was strange, I just wasn't moving and I didn't know what the hell I was doing", said the world No6 from Eastbourne in Sussex.

Bailey next meets Vanessa Atkinson, the in-form third seed from the Netherlands who arrived in Bahrain after three successive WISPA title triumphs.  Atkinson repeated her win over Dutch compatriot Annelize Naude in the final of the recent Mexican Open with a 9-4 9-0 9-1 victory in just 27 minutes.

Top seed Rachael Grinham was also on cruise control as she moved into the last eight.  The Cairo-based Australian dominated the rallies against Hong Kong's Asian Games champion Rebecca Chiu, winning 9-3 9-5 9-1 in 38 minutes. 

In what will essentially be a 'Cairo Closed' final, Grinham will now face Omneya Abdel Kawy.  The Egyptian caused opponent Pamela Nimmo all sorts of problems with her wristy play, going through in 35 minutes to win 9-6 9-7 9-2.

"I knew if I could get her behind me I would do better but she was too good tonight," said the losing Scot, who was happy however having cleared the first round hurdle.

In her first match back after an Achilles injury, Cassie Jackman had eased herself in the previous night - but her second round opponent Jenny Duncalf, her England team-mate in the World Championships later this month, bore the brunt of Jackman firing on all cylinders as she reached the quarters.  The second seed's sheer weight of shot was irresistible as she powered to a 9-7 9-0 9-2 win in 33 minutes.

Jackman's next opponent was open to doubt for a while as France's Isabelle Stoehr took the first game from seventh seed Nicol David.  The Malaysian picked up her game and eventually came through 4-9 9-3 9-6 9-4 in 59 minutes, but not without difficulty. 

Stoehr recently moved to England to base herself at the Village Cheadle in Manchester to fulfil three criteria:  It would be good for her squash to move away from the comfort zone of her home; it would improve her English (which is already fluent!); and, as she put it, it would "turn a page in my life"!