Women's Central Bank Texas Open Squash Championship, Houston, USA

Final:

[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) 9-2, 9-5, 9-6

Grainger Grabs Texas Open Title

US squash star Natalie Grainger successfully defended her Women's Central Bank Texas Open title when she beat England's Laura Lengthorn-Massaro in straight games in the final of the $27,600 WISPA World Tour event at Downtown Club at the Met in Houston, USA.

After claiming an unexpected place in the final following her upset over third-seeded New Zealander Shelley Kitchen in the previous round, third seed Lengthorn-Massaro put in a feisty performance against the favourite from Washington DC.

There were many long exchanges in the second and third games that forced Grainger to remain focused, but in the end the 30-year-old world number four cranked it up a notch to win 9-2, 9-5, 9-6 and secure the crown for the second year in a row.

The win marks Grainger's 18^th WISPA Tour title - and the seventh on her new 'home soil' since becoming a US citizen in February 2007.
 

Semi-finals:

[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [7] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 10-8, 9-1, 9-5

[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [2] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 6-9, 1-9, 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
 

Laura Outlasts Shelley In Texas Upset

[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Alana Miller (CAN) 9-2, 9-2, 9-5

[6] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt [Q] Georgina Stoker (ENG) 8-10, 9-6, 9-3, 9-4

[4] Samantha Teran (MEX) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 9-2, 9-5, 10-8

[7] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Tricia Chuah (MAS) 9-0, 9-1, 9-5

[5] Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-6, 3-9, 9-2, 9-7

[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 9-3, 10-8, 10-8

[8] Latasha Khan (USA) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 9-3, 6-9, 9-3, 9-7

[2] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 9-3, 9-1, 9-0

    Quarter-finals:

[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [6] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 9-0, 9-0, 9-7

[7] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [4] Samantha Teran (MEX) 9-5, 4-9, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2

[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Sharon Wee (MAS) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0

[2] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [8] Latasha Khan (USA) 9-3, 9-2, 9-4

Stoehr Startles Teran In Texas

France's seventh seed Isabelle Stoehr pulled off a notable upset in the Women's Central Bank Texas Open when she defeated fourth-seeded Mexican Samantha Teran to reach the semi-finals of the $27,600 WISPA World Tour squash event at Downtown Club at the Met in Houston, USA.

Teran led 2/1, but the 28-year-old from Montpellier - who reached the semi-finals of the British Open earlier this month as a qualifier - fought back to record an impressive 9-5, 4-9, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2 win.

Stoehr now faces favourite Natalie Grainger, the US number one who despatched England's sixth seed Dominique Lloyd-Walter 9-0, 9-0, 9-7.

There will be English interest in the other semi-final after third seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro crushed fifth-seeded Malaysian Sharon Wee 9-0, 9-0, 9-0.