By Matthew Davis BBC, Nottingham

British Open highlights Sunday Grandstand BBC Two, 1250 GMT

For the second year running, Australians David Palmer and Rachel Grinham won the men's and women's titles at squash's most prestigious tournament, the British Open.

Palmer and Grinham retained their crowns with dramatic 3-1 victories played out in front of sell-out crowds at Nottingham's Albert Hall.

Their successes in the last two events have mirrored the renaissance of the tournament itself.

In recent years the gleam of the Open - the benchmark in the careers of former greats like Jonah Barrington and Jahangir Khan - faded amid wrangles over marketing and administration.

But with new sponsors, a popular venue and the return of BBC coverage, the optimism is back.

The game itself is also in great health with squash one of five sports now being considered for a place in the 2012 Olympics.

There was a sense of disappointment among home fans that for the first time in nearly 10 years, there was no British involvement in either of the finals.

But this was swiftly exorcised by the quality of the matches, both of which were battles of opposites.

Twenty-four hours ago, the thought of standing here holding another trophy was a million miles away Rachel Grinham

The diminutive Grinham, 27, gave a tactical master-class in breaking down her more powerful, but heavier-footed opponent Natalie Grainger 3-9, 9-5, 9-0, 9-3.

Grainger, also 27, and born in Manchester but playing for the US, was run all over the court by her opponent's clever boasts and energy-sapping lobs.

"The only way to get her off the T was to slow the game down," said Grinham after the match.

"She actually had to move more in a slower game because she had to go and get the ball, rather than sticking her racket straight on it."

Grinham's win was all the more remarkable as she was on the verge of defeat in the semi-final the previous evening, coming back from 0-2 down to beat Vanessa Atkinson in the longest match of the tournament.

Australians retain titles

"Twenty-four hours ago, the thought of standing here holding another trophy was a million miles away," she said. �

The men's final saw an odd double act produce an outstanding end to the tournament.

The imposing David Palmer - a Corinthian figure dressed in orthodox whites - took on his opposite, Amr Shabana - a 25-year-old Egyptian left-hander with a fluorescent orange top, a bandana and a gold neck chain.

Squash is a game that requires "co-operative movement" for the players to be able to get to the ball, but there was little quarter given by either man.

Shabana was left sprawling on the floor on numerous occasions as he tried to bypass the bigger man - but there was no malice in the collisions.

I'm getting married in a couple of months' time - this win really tops it off a treat. David Palmer

"He's a giant," said the Egyptian, drawing laughter from the crowd, after one unsuccessful attempt to dislodge Palmer from the middle of the court.

Displaying incredible speed for such a big man, Palmer refused to let the exertions of a marathon 101-minute semi-final stand between him and a third Open title.

"It could have gone either way in the last two games," the Australian admitted after his 14-16, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7 victory.

He added: "I'm getting married in a couple of months' time - this really tops it off a treat.

"But I don't care what the organisers say, I'm taking the trophy back to Australia - I'll bring it back next year."

By the time the trophy returns, those who run the game hope the International Olympic Committee will have brought squash into the Olympic family.