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Australia takes British Open double

06/10/2003 05:17:49 AM Comments (0)

Australia has taken out the British Open squash double with David Palmer claiming the men's title and Rachael Grinham winning the women's crown.

Second seed Palmer toppled defending champion and top seed Peter Nicol of England 15-13 15-13 15-8 in the final at the Albert Hall in Nottingham to win his second British title.

Palmer's win follows his world championship victory last year and avenges his loss to Nicol in the US Open final last month.

Third seed Grinham, 26, beat Cassie Jackman 9-3 7-9 9-2 9-5 to record her maiden British Open title and first win over the sixth seeded Englishwoman in six matches.

Her win continues Australia's dominance of the event, following Sarah Fitz-Gerald's wins in 2001 and 2002 and Michelle Martin's supreme reign from 1993 to 1998.

"Following Fitzy out there, that's not a bad name to follow," Grinham said.

Palmer, from Lithgow in NSW but now living in Bermuda and Belgium, knew if he was to repeat his 2001 triumph he couldn't afford another slow start which almost cost him in his semi final win over fellow Australian Anthony Ricketts.

"To win a second British Open is fantastic," Palmer, 27, said.

"I got a good start and went to a good lead and led by three or four points throughout the first game.

"But typically Peter was hanging in there but when I got the tight second game, it was a big moment, it got me pumped up."

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