North Coast Open QF: Hedrick and Grinham Make Semis

Rex Hedrick and Rachael Grinham caused seeding upsets on the second day of the Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open, with the pair taking out higher-seeded players to make the last four of the Challenger 10 level tournament.

The event, which is taking place at Coffs Harbour Squash & Swim Centre, is restricted to only those currently based in both Australia and New Zealand, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

45-year-old Grinham came in to the tournament as the No.5 seed, and after receiving a bye through the opening round, she came up against World No.82 Tamika Hunt, the No.3 seed, in the quarter finals.

It was the former World No.1 that took a two game advantage, but Hunt brought it back to send the contest into a deciding game. However, Grinham was able to regroup, and she won the fifth to book her spot in the last four in Coffs Harbour.

She will now face No.2 seed Jessica Turnbull, the defending North Coast Open champion, in the semi-finals, after the Aussie got the better of No.6 seed Selena Sheikh. The other semi-final will see top seed Sarah Cardwell take on Alex Haydon for a place in the final.

In the men’s event, former World No.48 Rex Hedrick caused the biggest seeding upset to make it into the last four, as he downed No.4 seed Rohan Toole in straight games. He will now face top seed Rhys Dowling in the semis.

The other semi-final will see the unseeded Josh Larkin take on No.2 seed Joseph White for a place in the final, with all the action taking place in Coffs Harbour on Saturday, February 19.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open
[1] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt James Lloyd (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-1, 11-3 (17m)
Rex Hedrick (AUS) bt [4] Rohan Toole (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (33m)
Josh Larkin (AUS) bt David Turner (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 (30m)
[2] Joseph White (AUS) bt [7] Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (29m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, February 19
[1] Rhys Dowling (AUS) v Rex Hedrick (AUS)
Josh Larkin (AUS) v [2] Joseph White (AUS)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [8] Madison Lyon (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 (19m)
[4] Alex Haydon (AUS) bt Maggy Marshall (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 1-3, 11-8 (21m)
[5] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [3] Tamika Hunt (AUS) 3-2: 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6 (60m)
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt [6] Selena Sheikh (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (22m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, February 19
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) v [4] Alex Haydon (AUS)
[5] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS)