Atkinson retains title easily

Squash: Vanessa Atkinson, the English-born world number three who represents Holland, retained her Irish Open title at Fitzwilliam yesterday, beating eighth seed Jenny Tranfield in straight games, in just 34 minutes.

Atkinson, who knocked Irish champion Madeline Perry out of the tournament for the second year running on Saturday, winning their semi-final by three games to one, recovered from 8-0 down in the opening game of the final to win it 10-8, and lost just four more points in the final two games.

Tranfield had caused an upset in the semi-finals when she beat second seed Natalie Grinham (Australia) in straight games, but Perry was unable to create the second surprise of the round against Atkinson, although she briefly raised the home crowd's hopes by taking the third set.

Atkinson, who took the first two sets 9-2, 9-7, regained her concentration, after making a string of unforced errors, to close out the match, 9-4.

IRISH OPEN (at Fitzwilliam): Quarter-finals - N Grinham (Aus) bt R Macree (Eng) 9-3, 8-10, 9-6, 9-10, 9-7; J Tranfield (Eng) bt D Desira (Aus) 9-2, 9-0, 9-0; V Atkinson (Holl) bt S Brind (Eng) 9-4, 6-9, 9-2, 9-7; M Perry (Ire) bt C Khan (Pak) 9-6, 10-8, 9-1. Semi-finals - Tranfield bt Grinham 9-3, 9-0, 9-6; Atkinson bt Perry 9-2, 9-7, 1-9, 9-4. Final - Atkinson bt Tranfield 10-8, 9-1, 9-3.