MADRID, Oct 28: Rachael Grinham, the British Open champion, made sisterly history when she faced and then overcame the younger Natalie Grinham, the Commonwealth champion, by 9-4, 10-8, 9-2 to win the World Open title for the first time.

Not only was it the first time that the Grinhams had met in a WISPA Tour final, it was almost certainly only the second pair of sisters in any sport ever to have contested a major final.

“The fact that I wanted to win this one so badly, more badly than before, didn’t mean it was difficult to play my sister,” said Rachael.

It was a delightful contest, full of fascinating patterns, subtle lobs and drops, slow drives and sharply volleyed interceptions, typical of two players who as kids used to sneak on to unlit courts back home in Toowomba in Australia and try to play when they weren’t supposed to.

But there was no doubt that this final was competitive. Natalie several times yelled at herself, and once hit Rachael on the bottom gently with the edge of her racket as retribution for winning a rally with three audacious retrieves.

Did Rachael feel sorry for Natalie for having denied her the world title? “No – she got all three golds at the Commonwealth,” she replied, laughing. “We are pleased for the other one when she wins, but at the end of the day, we do want to win.”—AFP