Nicol,Rachael sail into quarters

Hyderabad, July 6 (UNI) There was no perceptible change in the script as seeded players, led by World champion Nicol David of Malaysia and Reigning champion Rachael Grinham of Australia sailed into the quarterfinals of the Qatar Airways Challenge WISPA World Tour Squash Championship at the Secunderabad Club courts here tonight.

Favourite to win the title in the absence of World number one Vanessa Atkinson of Netherlands, the soft-spoken Malaysian proved that she was made of sterner stuff on her way to a tough 9-6, 4-9, 9-6, 9-5 win over Shelly Kitchen of New Zealand in an hour.

The 13th ranked Kiwi was left bewildered by the pace and swift movement of the World Number two Nicol, who demolished her rival with clinical precision to make it a no-contest, especially in the fourth game and stay on course for a title clash with Rachael.

Gunning for her second successive title, the Australian Numero Uno, ranked fourth in the world, defeated Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong 9-10, 9-5, 9-2, 9-7 in a tense encounter.

Joining the top two seeds were World Number three and triple gold medallist in the Melbourne Commonwealth games Natalie Grinham of Australia who packed enough firepower to decimate Dominique Lloyd-Walter of England in 40 minutes.

After a close first set in which lead kept changing, the third seed Aussie mesmerized her rival with a wide repertoire of shots to post a 9-6, 9-2, 9-0 win and earn a slot in the last eight stage.

Fourth seeded Vicky Botwright, fifth seeded Jenny Duncalf and sixth seeded Tania Bailey (All England) also made it to the quarters.

While Vicky handed out a 9-7, 9-1, 9-7 drubbing to her unseeded compatriot Lauren Briggs, Jenny was made to work hard for her 9-2, 6-9, 9-6, 9-3 win over Isabelle Stoehr of France.

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