Grainger Has Successful Day At Class

Top seed Natalie Grainger wasted no time in setting out her stall in the opening round of the Women's Vassar College Class of 1932 Open in Poughkeepsie, New York. Her Canadian opponent Katie Patrick was coming off a good qualifying win, but was not afforded any time to settle as the world No6 from Washington DC strode to her 9-4 9-0 9-2 win in her first WISPA World Tour outing of the New Year.

Grainger now faces Scotland's sixth seed Pamela Nimmo for a place in the last four. The Scot was focused throughout her match against unseeded Egyptian Eman El Amir, winning 9-1 9-6 9-5.

England's No2 seed Fiona Geaves survived a first game loss against Australia's Heidi Mather, but the 37-year-old tour veteran came back to claim a 4-9 9-2 9-1 9-7 victory. Despite putting up a strong showing against the world No12, Queenslander Mather, just 26, clearly decided that 'enough was enough' and duly announced her retirement from the game.

1st round:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Katie Patrick (CAN) 9-4, 9-0, 9-2
[6] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 9-1, 9-6, 9-5
[3] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-4, 9-7, 9-4
[8] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt [Q] Manuela Manetta (ITA) 9-6, 9-4, 9-2
[7] Latasha Khan (USA) bt [Q] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-4, 9-2, 3-9, 7-9, 9-6
[4] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Melissa Martin (AUS) 6-9, 9-6, 9-0, 2-9, 9-4
[5] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Louisa Hall (USA) 9-5, 9-0, 9-2
[2] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt Heidi Mather (AUS) 4-9, 9-2, 9-1, 9-7