David Cruises Past El Weleily For 7th Straight Hong Kong Open Title
by Steve Cubbins
David - El Weleily, photo courtesy Steve Cubbins
November 20, 2011 - It was a tough ask for 10th seed Raneem El Weleily to put an end to Nicol David's 34-match unbeaten streak in Hong Kong, and for two games in the first final of the evening at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre it looked as though the pressure had got to her.
David took a 4/1 lead in the first, and although the Egyptian levelled it was only a temporary respite as Nicol raced through to take the lead 11/5. A 4/1 lead in the second, but this time the mini-comeback only got as far as 6/3 before Nicol doubled her advantage 11/4.
She wasn't needing to do anything special, was the world champion and six-time defending Hong Kong champion, just her usual steady speedy self, and Raneem was helping her along the way too with a few typically casual errors.
But, in Nicol's own words, "she just fired in a few winners in a row in the third," and she did too. A 4/1 lead for Raneem became 4-all, but she continued her improvement and led 9/8 as Nicol's video appeal after being denied a let after a lungbusting rally was denied.
That was as close as Raneem got though, three points in a row for Nicol and that seventh title was hers.
"In the beginning, I was too eager to win, too exited and I just didn’t play my game at all," admitted El Weleily."In the third, I thought, nothing to lose, and maybe I started looking a bit better on court!"
Nicol was naturally delighted with a seventh success at a venue which really started it all with her first World Open win in 2005.
"It was pretty hard tonight, especially when she played six nicks in a row in the third, I had to just keep on running and running. Hong Kong has special memories for me so to win here again feels just great. That’s that feeling I’m working for and that I want to keep every time I play."
Finals, $75,000 WISPA Hong Kong Open:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [10] Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 11/5, 11/4, 11/9 (30m)
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