Natalie Grinham
Encyclopedia
Natalie Marie Grinham is a professional squash
player. During her career, she has won three Commonwealth Games
Gold Medals, and finished runner-up at both the World Open and the British Open
. She reached the World No. 2 ranking in 2007. She represented Australia in international squash competitions up to 2006. She is married to the Dutch
squash player Tommy Berden, and took up Dutch citizenship in February 2008. Natalie's older sister Rachael Grinham
is also one of the world's leading professional squash players.
Natalie's most significant tournament victory to date came at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, where she represented Australia. She defeated World No. 1 Nicol David
in the semi-finals, before going on to beat her sister Rachael in the women's singles final 2–9, 9–6, 9–1, 9–6 to claim the Gold Medal. She then went on to claim two more Gold Medals in the doubles competitions – partnering Rachael in the women's doubles, and Joe Kneipp
in the mixed doubles. Natalie and Rachael had previously won a women's doubles Bronze Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The sisters also won the women's doubles title at the 2004 World Doubles Squash Championships
.
Natalie has finished runner-up at the World Open three times. In 2004 she lost in the final to Vanessa Atkinson
9–1, 9–1, 9–5; in 2006 she lost to Nicol David 1–9, 9–7, 3–9, 9–5, 9–2; and in 2007 she lost to sister Rachael 9–4, 10–8, 9–2. She was runner-up at the British Open in 2005, losing in the final to Nicol David 9–6, 9–7, 9–6.
Natalie is married to the Dutch squash player Tommy Berden and has lived in the Netherlands since 1999. She became a Dutch citizen in February 2008. She last represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Under the World Squash Federation
's current rules, players must wait for three years before becoming eligible to represent a different country. Accordingly she has represented the Netherlands from 2009 onwards.
Natalie is expecting her first child in months to come and is determined to make a comeback after giving birth.
have a long rivalry history. They have met 30 times during their careers, with Nicol leading their overall head-to-head series 23–7. Nicol is Natalie's most frequent opponent on tour. 16 of their matches have been in tournament finals, including two in the World Open tournament. The World Open 2006
final between Natalie and Nicol is dubbed to be one of the greatest in the Women's World Open history.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player. During her career, she has won three Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
Gold Medals, and finished runner-up at both the World Open and the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
. She reached the World No. 2 ranking in 2007. She represented Australia in international squash competitions up to 2006. She is married to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
squash player Tommy Berden, and took up Dutch citizenship in February 2008. Natalie's older sister Rachael Grinham
Rachael Grinham
Rachael Margaret Grinham is a professional squash player from Australia. She won the World Open in 2007, and the British Open in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009. She reached the World No...
is also one of the world's leading professional squash players.
Natalie's most significant tournament victory to date came at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, where she represented Australia. She defeated World No. 1 Nicol David
Nicol David
Datuk Nicol Ann David is a Malaysian female professional squash player. She is currently ranked world number 1 in women's squash, and is the first Asian woman to achieve this...
in the semi-finals, before going on to beat her sister Rachael in the women's singles final 2–9, 9–6, 9–1, 9–6 to claim the Gold Medal. She then went on to claim two more Gold Medals in the doubles competitions – partnering Rachael in the women's doubles, and Joe Kneipp
Joe Kneipp
Joseph Kneipp is a professional squash player from Australia.Kneipp was born in Brisbane and grew up near Cairns. He began playing squash at the age of seven. As a junior, he won the Australian under-13 squash championship title. At the age of 14, he attended the Australian Institute of Sport for...
in the mixed doubles. Natalie and Rachael had previously won a women's doubles Bronze Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The sisters also won the women's doubles title at the 2004 World Doubles Squash Championships
World Doubles Squash Championships
The World International Doubles Squash Championships is a squash tournament which includes Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. Under the rules of the championships, double pairs must be made up of two players from the same country...
.
Natalie has finished runner-up at the World Open three times. In 2004 she lost in the final to Vanessa Atkinson
Vanessa Atkinson
Vanessa Louise Atkinson is a former professional squash player from the Netherlands, who won the World Open in 2004 and reached the World No. 1 ranking in December 2005....
9–1, 9–1, 9–5; in 2006 she lost to Nicol David 1–9, 9–7, 3–9, 9–5, 9–2; and in 2007 she lost to sister Rachael 9–4, 10–8, 9–2. She was runner-up at the British Open in 2005, losing in the final to Nicol David 9–6, 9–7, 9–6.
Natalie is married to the Dutch squash player Tommy Berden and has lived in the Netherlands since 1999. She became a Dutch citizen in February 2008. She last represented Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Under the World Squash Federation
World Squash Federation
The World Squash Federation is the international federation for squash, an indoor racquet sport which was formerly called "Squash rackets."It is based in Hastings in England. As of 2009 it has 147 member federations...
's current rules, players must wait for three years before becoming eligible to represent a different country. Accordingly she has represented the Netherlands from 2009 onwards.
Natalie is expecting her first child in months to come and is determined to make a comeback after giving birth.
Natalie vs. Nicol David
Natalie Grinham and Nicol DavidNicol David
Datuk Nicol Ann David is a Malaysian female professional squash player. She is currently ranked world number 1 in women's squash, and is the first Asian woman to achieve this...
have a long rivalry history. They have met 30 times during their careers, with Nicol leading their overall head-to-head series 23–7. Nicol is Natalie's most frequent opponent on tour. 16 of their matches have been in tournament finals, including two in the World Open tournament. The World Open 2006
2006 Women's World Open Squash Championship
The 2006 Women's World Open Squash Championship is the women's edition of the World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players...
final between Natalie and Nicol is dubbed to be one of the greatest in the Women's World Open history.