Squash: Matthew wins title, regains top ranking

World Open champion Nick Matthew beat world number one James Willstrop to win the Tournament of Champions title for the first time, ensuring that he regains the world number-one ranking in February.Matthews 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 win over his career-long rival was reward for great tenacity, a crucial second game escape from 7-9 down, and the strength and perception to increase the ratio of his attacks in the second half of the match.It was a bitter blow for the skilful Willstrop, who has now lost their last 13 encounters, and will have escaped from Matthews spreading shadow to head the rankings for only one month.Although Matthew had a harder run to the final he lasted the pace well, almost certainly benefitting from the time he took off to recover from injury during the last two tournaments of 2011.I sat on the settee at home watching James pick up all these titles (Hong Kong, Kuwait, and Delhi), being a pain in the arse and I never thought this today would happen, Matthew said.At the start James was far too good, and I had to show determination, and then suddenly the match turned. After losing three finals Im delighted to win such a good tournament, he said of an event played inside Grand Central terminal and attracting a quarter of a million passers-by during the week.In the womens final, Natalie Grinham gave another answer to those doubting the wisdom of her returning to the tour after having a baby, winning her third and biggest of her titles since doing so.The Australian-raised four times former World Open finalist from The Netherlands overcame Dipika Pallikal, the 20-year-old Indian playing the biggest match of her career, by 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.After nine matches in nine days Pallikal looked too tired and foot-weary to do herself justice, and Grinham, one of the finest of lob-drop exponents, ruthlessly toook advantage.The 33-year-old champion will decide after her next tournament, the Cleveland Classic starting in two days, whether or not she will retire.