Julian Illingworth defeated Brandon McLaughlin in three straight games and will attempt to win his eighth consecutive title when he faces Christopher Gordon this afternoon in the finals of the 2012 U.S. S.L. Green Championship in Cambridge, MA. Natalie Grainger, looking for her sixth consecutive crown, squares off against Amanda Sobhy in the final of the U.S.Women’s Championship.
Illingworth had little trouble in his semi, steamrolling the Harvard sophomore in three straight games, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7. Gordon had a bit more difficulty with Graham Bassett, but was able to also win in three, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, to set up the final for this afternoon.
The men will be preceded by the much anticipated women’s showdown between Grainger and Sobhy. Grainger stopped Sabrina Sobhy, 11-5, 13-11, 11-2, while Amanda Sobhy cruised into the final by sweeping past Olivia Blatchford, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.