World No 3 Natalie Grinham ended the fairytale run of New Zealander Shelley Kitchen to win through to the final of the New Zealand women's open at Mt Maunganui yesterday.
Top seed and world No 2 Natalie Grainger (US) will meet Australia's Grinham in today's final, the first time theNew Zealand Open has been contested since 1993.
Grinham was too fast and too strong for Kitchen, winning in straight games 11-9 11-2 11-7 after Grainger won her semifinal in three games over Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy 11-8 11-5 11-9.
It was the best career performance from Kitchen in only her second semifinal in a top-ranked event. Her world ranking should rise now.
"I went all out in that first game and I was quite disappointed not to win it. A couple of mistakes late proved really costly," Kitchen said. "If I had been able to nail that one I think the match would have turned out differently.
Grinham, in her third final in four weeks, was pleased with her form.
"I did not hit many errors which was pleasing. Hopefully I can play well again and push through for a victory."
The final of the one-star men's classic is an all-New Zealand affair.
The second seed, Martin Knight, will take on Auckland's Campbell Grayson, who upset No 1 seed and New Zealand champion Kashif Shuja.
Grayson edged out Shuja 13-11 8-11 11-4 11-8 in a 65 minute battle, to continue their rivalry with the pair training together on a regular basis.
Knight, the Wellington-born, Auckland-based player, accounted for Australia's Matthew Karwalski in straight games 11-7 11-8 13-11.
