Grainger Clinches Cleveland Hat-Trick

Natalie Grainger secured a hat-trick of WISPA World Tour squash titles in Cleveland when she beat unexpected English opponent Alison Waters in the final of the $39,000 Women's National City Burning River Classic in front of a capacity crowd at the Cleveland Racquet Club in the US state of Ohio.

The event, which first ran in 2007, has known no other winner than Grainger - the second seed from the USA who put on a masterful display against Waters, the world number six from London who shocked top seed Rachael Grinham to reach the final.

It was by no means a one-sided affair, however, as Waters made her intent for the crown felt in the first game, taking it 11-9 after an electric display of squash.

Grainger came out in the second game looking like a player on a mission: It was not through the underdog's careless play that the USA star romped to a 10-0 lead, more an aggressive accuracy that the Cleveland crowd had yet to experience.

The third game was more of the same as Natalie moved 2/1 up. Waters started the fourth in good spirits leading 3-1. But Grainger came back to set up another run of eight straight points as she headed to the 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-4 victory which marked her 12th successive match win in the event.

The Burning River Classic title gives Grainger the 21st WISPA World Tour title of her career - and the 10th on home soil since the England-born 31-year-old became a US citizen in February 2007.

RESULTS

Final:
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [3] Alison Waters (ENG) 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-4