David Dominant Over Waters In Women's British Open Semis, Massaro Beats El Weleily In Four by Scarlett Smith
photos courtesy britishopensquash.net
May 25, 2013
- In glorious sunshine The Allam British Open came to life at the KC
Stadium today as the capacity crowd enjoyed four entertaining
semi-final matches.
It was a day of mixed success for England with both Yorkshire’s home
hopefuls Nick Matthew and James Willstrop crashing out but there was
better news in the women’s draw.
England’s last British Open champion in the women’s event was back in
2001 when Lisa Opie lifted the trophy but tomorrow Laura Massaro has
the chance to change the record books after she beat Egyptian Raneem El
Weleily.
Massaro’s route to the final of the Allam British Open was no easy feat
against the Egyptian who took the first game 11/8 as the Brit struggled
to find her top form. El Weleily started strongly and was soon 3-0 up
and despite a dedicated effort by Massaro, she remained in front until
the end.
But Massaro reversed her fortunes in the second game taking the first
point and going 3-0 up in a matter of minutes. A small wobble in
the middle of the game saw El Weleily come back to 6-7 but that was
Massaro’s cue to refocus her efforts to win 11-6.
The third game became an almost mirror-image of the first, with Massaro
this time taking the initiative and drawing first blood. The two
players vied for position through a number of strong rallies and
strategic front-wall play and matched each other point for point. In
the end it was Massaro who again edged her opponent out to win 11/8.
El Weleily started strong in what turned out to be the last game, going
3-1 up, then 5-2 and then 7-4. But the Brit, who could taste victory,
pulled it back to 7-7, then 8-8 and then 9-9. In a tense ending to the
match it was the Massaro who made it across the line first to win the
game 11/9 and the match 3-1.
Speaking after the match Massaro said she had found it hard to keep the
prospect of reaching the final out of her head in the final few rallies.
She said: “For a British player to make it to the British Open final in
front of such a huge crowd is amazing. I am so happy, so happy.”
Nicol David was simply unstoppable in the first women’s semi final
against England’s Alison Waters the Malaysian showed why she has been
almost untouchable at world number one since 2006.
Despite getting off to a good start in the first with the Englishwoman
really struggled to find any answer to David’s speed and accuracy
around the court.
The fourth seed struggled to retrieve at the back of the court and
David took full advantage taking just 27 minutes to move into
tomorrow’s finals.
“Alison started really well, but I was able to start imposing my game and it worked,” explained the world no.1.
Asked about always being the favourite the Malaysian replied, “I just keep doing what I’m doing and save the best until last!”
Women’s Semi-Finals:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [4] Alison Waters (Eng) 11/5, 11/4, 11/5 (27m)
[2] Laura Massaro (Eng) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (Egy) 8/11, 11/6, 11/8, 11/9 (48m)
