Battler Martin shows her class

AUSTRALIA'S Michelle Martin consolidated her world number one position by twice coming back from a game down to defeat compatriot Liz Irving in the Pak Fah Yeow women's open final at the Hongkong Squash Centre yesterday.

Martin, who took over the top spot after the retirement of New Zealand's Susan Devoy last year, won 4-9, 9-0, 6-9, 9-4, 9-3 for her fourth straight Grand Prix title.

Her remarkable run of success started with the Guernsey Open in late March. She followed that by winning the British Open in April and the Japan Super Squash event last week.

But Martin said she had a long way to go before she could come close to matching the dominance of Devoy, who has ruled women's squash for almost a decade.

''I might be dominating at the moment but the competition is getting harder and I don't think I can rest on my laurels. You're only as good as your last win,'' she said.

''I'm pretty pleased with my performances this year. I have put in a lot of training and everything is paying off. Those Friday nights not going out do not seem so bad now.'' Martin was made to work overtime by the stylish Irving, the number four seed ranked sixth in the world, before claiming the $35,100 winner's cheque in just over an hour. Irving, last beaten by Martin in the Guernsey final, returned with a vengeance and was at her best in the first game when she never let her more illustrious rival settle.

Irving, however, completely lost concentration in the second game, which saw Martin needing only four minutes for a whitewash.