RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Natalie Grainger
didn't work this hard to become an American citizen for nothing.
The long process the Washington, D.C., resident
endured, which culminated in her becoming a U.S. citizen
in February, is now paying off as she closes in on a Pan
American Games Squash championship.
Grainger swept Canada's Runa Reta 9-3, 9-5,
9-0 in Sunday afternoon's women's semifinals at the Miecimo
da Silva Sport Complex. She now advances to face Canada's
Alaina Miller in the gold-medal match on Monday afternoon
at 5:30.
"It's really exciting to be only one
win away from the gold medal," Grainger said. "I'm
having a great time competing for the U.S. for the first
time. I can't wait for that match in the finals."
Joining Grainger in the finals was American
Julian Illingworth, who rallied for a wild 9-7, 4-9, 8-10,
9-1, 9-6 win over Colombia's Miguel A. Rodriguez in Sunday
night's men's semfinals.
Illingworth had knocked off top seed Shahier
Razik of Canada in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning.
It was a big day for Grainger, who was competing
in her first major event since she became a U.S. citizen.
Grainger was born in England and grew up in South Africa.
The U.S. men and women are scheduled to
begin team competition Tuesday at 9 a.m.
