Nicol David
blogs from Cayman Islands 2009.
In this picture: Natalie Grainger (Wispa No.2!)

The event was leading up to this day and now I get to meet Natalie again in the finals. Preparing myself for a head to head match since Malaysia, I knew this was going to be an exciting match.

She started getting comfortable with her shots by hitting some winners right from the word GO. I got up to speed after a few points and even falling behind, I needed to keep it going.

Suddenly, everything just came together for me both my movement and focus. Just managing to take that first game, I worked harder in the second and third knowing that I needed to push this last bit to take it further.

It’s a great feeling to win this tournament in front of such an appreciative crowd. Already looking forward to this coming week in the Texas Open to get going again. Now, I’ll be swimming with the sting rays in a short while. Should be fun!

Cayman Islands Open 2009 Winner

She did it! Nicol David picked herself up and came back with guns a blazing to avenge her last defeat against N.Grainger with a straight set win—11/8, 11/6, 11/5… in 33 minutes!

Natalie played well but with Nicol putting pressure on all four corners, things can get a little bit frustrating. Anyway, brilliantly played girls! Congratulations, Nicol and enjoy your last day at Caymans…till next year, indeed.

Nicol David
blogs from Cayman Islands 2009.
In this picture: Rachael Grinham

Another day into the tournament, the crowd piling up into the squash centre and the heat is on, literally! It’s Rachael once again in another grueling match tonight and we both kept it going right through til the very end.

Rachael got into her rhythm on the bouncy courts while I was still finding my game. Winning the first game off my serve with a volley cross court nick, I thought to myself that I can’t let that happen again. I got back on court and to my surprise I didn’t lose a point afterwards winning the second game 11-0 ( my first time ever! ).

In the next two games, we both moved the ball round the court as much as possible. I was happy to keep my focus in better today because I couldn’t give anything for Rachael to work on. Finally when I hit that last shot to win the match, we both just stopped where we were dripping in sweat happy it’s over.

Well satisfied with my win but one last match to go with Natalie Grainger tomorrow in the finals so keep on the look out…

SEMI-FINALS
SATURDAY, 09/05/2009 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT
Natalie Grainger (USA) (2) bt. Jenny Duncalf (ENG) (5) – 11/6, 11/2, 11/3
Nicol David (MAS) (1) bt. Rachael Grinham (AUS) (3) – 9/11, 11/0, 11/8, 11/3

hmm…: An experienced Grainger trashes up-and-coming Duncalf. Duncalf who had a tough match the day before tried her best to hold her ground, but Grainger just came on full speed and was simply unstoppable! Playing later in the day, Nicol seemed a little sluggish in the first set (too much sun perhaps? losing the first set to Rachael, but suddenly stepped up in the second set to finish it 11 to nil! The Queen of Squash then kept up the pace and energy to win the last 2 sets. Looks like it’s a replay of the KL Open finals—Nicol Vs. Grainger… will Nicol win this time round? or will Natalie continue to deny the Queen her first title of the year?

TOMOROW: FINALS
SUNDAY, 10/05/2009 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT
17.30 Natalie Grainger (USA) (2) vs. Nicol David (MAS) (1)

Nicol David
blogs from Cayman Islands 2009.
In this picture: Samantha Teran

It was another hot and humid day on the squash court this evening even at 9.30pm while I was playing Samantha but all I could think of was to keep up with my speedy opponent on that court.

Samantha has been training in Amsterdam the past few weeks but during a tournament situation, both of us wanted to win just as much as the other person. I had a good start in the first game while she was still trying to get into the rallies.

In the second game, we had some monster rallies and the crowd was well thrilled with it all. After winning the second game 11-8, I wanted to go into the third game and keep it going. Samantha came out firing in the middle of the third game with most of her shots coming in perfectly for her. I regain my composure when I was trailing and played the right shots while she made a few errors to let me equal the scores. At the end, I got that game and was well pleased to win it 3-0.

Next up is Rachael Grinham in the semis tomorrow so keep following up on the news….

RESULTS: CIO 2009, Quarter Finals
FRIDAY, 08/05/2009 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT

Rachael Grinham (AUS) (3) bt. Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) – 9/11, 13/11, 11/6, 11/8
Nicol David (MAS) (1) bt. Samantha Teran (MEX) (8) – 11/3, 11/8, 11/8
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) (5) bt. Natalie Grinham (NED) (4) – 11/4, 13/15, 11/6, 5/11, 11/9
Natalie Grainger (USA) (2) bt. Kasey Brown (AUS) (7) – 11/9, 11/7, 11/7

Just some thoughts: WOW! Jenny beat Natalie Grinham! What an upset! And it looks like Jaclyn Hawkes put up a real struggle for Rachel. With only one Grinham sister left in the game, could Rachel be bidding for a come back as world no. 2? It also looks like Jenny Duncalf is on her way to up the charts too…Let’s see if Rachel can flabbergast Nicol tomorrow and if Jenny will create another giant upset with Grainger. I’m rooting for a Jenny vs. Nicol finals! It’s been a while since we last saw that!

TOMORROW: SEMI-FINALS
SATURDAY, 09/05/2009 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT
19.15: Jenny Duncalf (ENG) (5) vs. Natalie Grainger (USA) (2)
21.15: Nicol David (MAS) (1) vs. Rachel Grinham (AUS) (3)

RESULTS: CIO 2009, Round 1
THURSDAY, 07/05/2009 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT

Kasey Brown (AUS) (7) bt. Line Hansen (DEN) – 11/9, 11/8, 11/6
Samantha Teran (MEX) (8) bt. Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) – 11/9, 8/11, 8,11/ 11/7, 11/6
Natalie Grainger (USA) (2) bt. Latasha Khan (USA) - 5/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/6
Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt. Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) (6) - 11/7, 11/6, 11/4
Natalie Grinham (NED) (4) bt. Delia Arnold (MAS) – 11/6, 11/6, 11/5
Rachael Grinham (AUS) (3) bt. Lisa Camilleri (AUS) – 11/4, 11/9, 11/3
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) (5) bt. Marlene West (CAY) – 11/7, 11/3, 11/4
Nicol David (MAS) (1) bt. Sharon Wee (MAS) - 11/2, 11/5, 11/6

Nicol David
blogs from Cayman Islands 2009.
In this picture:
Emma and Anna-Carin from Sweden and me in my SquashStars Tee—enjoying the sun and the lovely sea breeze.

Hey everyone!
Hope you’ve been following up on our SquashStars’ tourneys because I’ll be keeping everyone posted on the happenings that’s been going on right here in the Cayman Islands.

Just been in this gorgeous island the last 4 and a half days and it’s been such a treat! The water at their beaches are truly breath taking. A talented Miss Emma Beddoes from England (squash player too) took these pictures while snorkeling out in the sea today. To her surprise, sting rays swam by her and she took the pictures undewater! Great how these cameras work these days.

It’s the first round today and I had to meet el’ Capitan, Sharon Wee tonight. We just finished our match not long ago because we were last to play on court. The crowd was buzzing—creating a great atmosphere to play in.

She played well keeping the rallies going and hitting the ball cleanly with every shot. I was just soaking the energy of the crowd and came in firing each rally. No doubt the heat made the rallies intense and we both worked hard throughout the match. I won 3-0 and am glad to have a good start in my first round.

Will have more updates to come for tomorrow’s match with Samantha Teran from Mexico. Stay tuned…

In this picture: The beautiful Cayman Islands

Check out our girls in action at the 2009 Cayman Islands Open—LIVE!
Click here for the link to the web cam view.

THURSDAY, 07/05/2009
Round 1 Cayman Islands Time: EST, -5hours GMT
12.15pm: Line Hansen (DEN) vs. Kasey Brown (AUS) (7)
13.00pm: Samantha Teran (MEX) (8) vs. Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) (8)
13.45pm: Natalie Grainger (USA) (2) vs. Latasha Khan (USA)
14.30pm: Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) (6) vs. Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
15.15pm: Natalie Grinham (NED) (4) vs. Delia Arnold (MAS)
16.00pm: Rachael Grinham (AUS) (3) vs. Lisa Camilleri (AUS)
19.15pm: Marlene West (CAY) vs. Jenny Duncalf (ENG) (5)
21.30pm: Nicol David (MAS) (1) vs. Sharon Wee (MAS)

WISPA UPDATE: Lauren Briggs (Eng) & Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) withdrew from this tournament on May 3.
Lauren is suffering from a shoulder impingement syndrome.

Qualifiers:
Delia Arnold (MAS) (bt. Liz Paz Noguez, MEX-11/3, 11/4, 11/1)
vs. Anna-Carin Forstadius (SWE) (bt. Cheri-Ann Parris, BAR-11/9, 11/8, 11/5)
RESULTS: Delia Arnold- 11/3, 11/8, 11/3

Latasha Khan (USA) (bt. Ivonne Diaz, MEX-11/4, 11/4, 11/7)
vs. Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) (BYE)
RESULTS: Latasha Khan- 9/11, 14/12, 11/1, 11/6

Irina Assal (RUS) (BYE)
vs. Lisa Camilleri (AUS) (bt. Yuko Ikeda, JPN-11/2, 11/3, 11/4)
RESULTS: Lisa Camilleri-11/1, 11/4, 11/4

Emma Beddoes (CAY) (bt. Karen Meakins, BAR-11/5, 11/5, 11/8)
vs. Sharon Wee (MAS) (bt. Courtney Stafford, CAY-11/3, 11/2, 11/6)
RESULTS: Sharon Wee-11/7, 11/6, 11/8

Nicol David, Samantha Teran and Line Hansen will be playing the Cayman Islands Open 2009 at…. you guessed it—the Cayman Islands! Qualifying in this exotic location starts tomorrow May 5th. The main round starts on Thursday, May 7th when our girls will be in action with a possible quarterfinal clash between Nicol and Samantha on Friday. Line will have a tough first round match against no. 7 seed Kasey Brown.

Nicol has been training hard in Amsterdam over the last few weeks. See the picture to the right, Nicol even kept a low profile on famous Queens Day last Thursday, wow. Samantha has also been visiting the Dutch capital for some training with topcoach Liz Irving recently, which will certainly stand her in good stead for the tournament.

Good luck to all our Squash Stars!