Squash princess wins 1st title of the year

Top seed Nicol David dethroned Rachael Grinham as the Qatar Airways Challenge champion in an enthralling final. It was anybody's for two games as they traded their full repertoire of shots. Rachael was playing beautifully, keeping Nicol on the back foot by mixing lobs, drives, volleys and boasts in equal measure.Rachael kept the upper hand at the start of the second, taking a 5-3 lead, but two errors let Nicol level and signalled a change in the match.In fact Rachael was not to score another point as Nicol upped the pace, volleyed everything she could and took control of the match as Rachael visibly tired.The 9-0, 9-0 scoreline in the last two games didn't reflect the match, but while Rachael was still contesting the rallies she couldn't find the answer to Nicol's pace and consistency.The inevitable was accepted for the last few points and a new champion was crowned.

Game one:Rachael takes the first game after some early errors by Nicol put her behind. Rachael using the lob well, and staying on top as the rallies became longer as the game went on ... 18m

Game two:At 2-all a court light blows, slightly dark in back left corner but both players agree to carry on. Rachael goes 5-3 up but with both players using every shot in the book in long, crafted rallies Nicol comes back into it to level ... 19m

Game three:Nicol takes early charge with winners from a variety of shots, races to 5-0. Rachael steadies, extends the rallies and wins a few serves, but can't stop Nicol taking the next four points, finishing on a service return into the tin ... 6m

Game four:Long rallies to start, then two quick points for Nicol, then two tins from Rachael. A stroke takes it to 5-0, another three quick tins to 8-0 match ball as Rachael seemingly accepts the inevitable. A final long rally sees Rachael's lob go out ... Nicol is the champion ... 7m

"I learned from the first game as the match progressed."I started to make her run around the court, and she started to feel it, I could sense her gasping for breath."The scoreline makes it look as if the last two games were one-sided, but it was much harder than that."Now I've got the Malaysian Open coming up in my hometown, and I'll have to change my approach. Making comebacks all the time isn't a good plan ..."I'm delighted to win this event for the first time, it's been a great week and the organisers and sponsors have done us all proud." - Nicol David