Can Nicol Make It Seven In A Row?
by Elliot Selby
17th July 2011 - Nicol David will be aiming for an incredible seventh title in a row this week at the CIMB Malaysian Open, being held at the National Squash Centre and The Curve shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament, which has recently been upgraded, will be the second World Series event of the year, following on from the Cayman Islands Open back in April.
David won the title in the Caymans and will look to stay atop of the World Series standings in front of her home fans.
However, there will be a whole host of top players with their eyes on the title and many will feel they can potentially dethrone the Queen of Squash. Earlier this year David was defeated for the first time in over twelve months by world number seven Laura Massaro in the final of the Cleveland Classic.
Massaro and David could have a repeat clash in the quarter final if they are both to come through their openers. Massaro, the British Champion, opens against a qualifier and David starts her campaign with a tricky match up against Australia’s Donna Urquhart, who made a shock run to the semi final of the Cayman Islands Open.
Nine of the world's top ten feature in the draw, with the only absentee being world number five Alison Waters, who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
World Number two Jenny Duncalf, David’s closest rival, starts against a qualifier and will be looking to go one further than last year when she pushed David to a nail biting fiver setter in the final. She could possibly play Australia’s Kasey Brown in the quarter final. Brown takes on a qualifier in the first round.
The two standout matches from the first round feature world number three Rachael Grinham and French number one Camille Serme, both will have to be at their very best to make the quarter final. Grinham takes on Annie Au and whilst Grinham holds a 2-1 head to head advantage, Au won their last meeting in the first round of Cleveland in January.
The winner is set to meet Omneya Abdel Kawy in the quarter final. The World Open finalist has not been in top form this year and will look to turn things around here. She faces Malaysia’s Delia Arnold, the wild card.
Serme has an equally difficult first round against long time rival Raneem El Weleily. The Egyptian will be confident going into their match, knowing she has never lost to Serme. Madeline Perry will be the likely quarter final opponent for one of these two. The world number four will face a qualifier in her first match.
All these players will also be wary of the danger that lurks in qualifying. Kiwi’s Joelle King and Jaclyn Hawkes, local star Wee Wern Low and England’s Sarah Kippax, if they make it through, will not be underestimated.
With more money and crucial World Series points up for grabs, the tournament will be tougher than ever.
Current World Series Standings:
1 Nicol David Malaysia 100
2 Jenny Duncalf England 65
3= Rachael Grinham Australia 40
3= Donna Urquhart Australia 40
5= Natalie Grinham Netherlands 25
5= Sarah Kippax England 25
5= Madeline Perry Ireland 25
5= Camille Serme France 25
9= Annie Au Hong Kong 15
9= Kasey Brown Australia 15
9= Jaclyn Hawkes New Zealand 15
9= Joelle King New Zealand 15
9= Amanda Sobhy USA 15
9= Alison Waters England 15
9= Low Wee Wern Malaysia 15
9= Marlene West Cayman Island 15
17= Emma Beddoes England 10
17= Aisling Blake Ireland 10
17= Latasha Khan USA 10
17= Isabelle Stoehr France 10
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