Aussie veteran sinks Lisa Camilleri in Caboolture final
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad WSA Correspondent
A full 16 years after winning her first, Australian Rachael Grinham has picked up the 34th WSA World Tour title of her distinguished career after seeing off compatriot Lisa Camilleri in the final of the Women’s Caboolture Open in Australia.
The 37-year-old former world number one reached the final of the WSA Tour 5 squash event at Caboolture Squash and Fitness Centre in Caboolture without dropping a game.
But second seed Camilleri (right), the world No.50 from Queensland, twice led Grinham as she bid to beat the world No.13 for the first time.
The experienced favourite was too strong for 31-year-old Camilleri, however, as Grinham closed out the match 8-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8 to become the oldest winner of a WSA Tour title for more than two years.
Grinham’s 34th title triumph strengthens her position in second place in the list of current players with the most titles to their credit – behind world number one Nicol David, who has 77 titles to her name. Interestingly, the player in third place – boasting 21 titles – is Lisa Camilleri!
WSA Caboolture Open, Australia:
1st round:
Madeleine Gill (USA) bt [15] Aimee Slatter (AUS) 9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4
Melody Francis (AUS) bt [16] Reyna Pacheco (MEX) 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9
2nd round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [11] Heather Pilley (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
Madeleine Gill (USA) bt [7] Lakeesha Rarere (AUS) 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5
[4] Antonella Falcione (ARG) bt [9] Natalie Newton (AUS) 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5
[5] Victoria Temple Murray (ENG) bt [13] Jasmine Chan (AUS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
[8] Sivasangari Subramanian (MAS) bt [10] Taylor Flavell (AUS) 11-5, 12-10, 11-4
[3] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt [14] Samantha Davies (AUS) 11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
[6] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
[2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [12] Samantha Calvert (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 11-2
Quarter-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Madeleine Gill (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5
[5] Victoria Temple Murray (ENG) bt [4] Antonella Falcione (ARG) 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7
[3] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) bt [8] Sivasangari Subramanian (MAS) 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6
[2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [6] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Victoria Temple Murray (ENG) 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
[2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt [3] Lotte Eriksen (NOR) 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 12-10
Final:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) 8-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8Â
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
Picture courtesy of WSAÂ