Nicol David Makes It Seven In A Row
by Elliot Selby
25th July 2011 - Nicol David delighted the home fans by collecting an incredible seventh straight title at the CIMB Malaysian Open this week.
The tournament, which has been upgraded to World Series status this year, attracted the world's top players and provided the crowds with some incredibly high level of squash all week.
The quality of squash was evident early on, as top twenty players fought for places in the main draw. After some long and gruelling encounters, it was Joelle King, Sarah Kippax, Low Wee Wern and Dipika Pallikal who progressed through to the main draw.
The first round saw seven out of the eight seeds make it through the quarter finals. David had the easiest time of it, as she was in control against Australia's Donna Urquhart in straight games. Jenny Duncalf also moved through in straight games, but was made to work hard by local favourite Low. There were further wins for Laura Massaro, who won an all-English clash over Kippax and Rachael Grinham who held off Hong Kong dynamo Annie Au. Omneya Abdel Kawy, Kasey Brown and Camille Serme were all pushed to the limit, needing five games and over an hour each to make it through. Kawy fought back from two games down to end local wildcard Delia Arnold's chances. Brown dug in and finally subdued the challenge of ever attacking Indian star Pallikal. Serme edged a tight match over rival Raneem El Weleily that could have gone either way. Madeline Perry was the last seed expected to make it through but was instead bundled out in commanding fashion by King.
The quarter finals saw all four matches played on the all glass court at the Curve Shopping Centre. Serme was the first to make it through, defeating an out of sorts King in straight games. Kawy then upset the seedings by squeezing past Grinham, 11-9 in the fifth, her third victory in a row over the Aussie. The top two seeds completed the semi final line up, but both were tested fully by their opponents. David gained some revenge over Massaro, the only player to have beaten her since 2009, defeating the British Champion in four games. Duncalf was the final player to make it through, coming back from the brink to defeat Brown in five.
The order was restored in the semi finals. David and Duncalf both coming through in straight games. Duncalf edged a close opening game against Serme and then controlled the remainder of the encounter. David recorded her sixth straight game victory over Kawy. Kawy stuck with David for the first two games, displaying her attacking skills. Her two previous marathon matches eventually took their toll and David ran away with the third game.
The final was a repeat of last year's climax and the second World Series event in a row that the world's top two players have faced off for the title. Duncalf last defeated David back in 2009, scoring two victories in a row. Since then David has dominated their head to head and the final this time was no different. David delighted the packed out crowd, all wanting to see their country's mega star in action. Duncalf had her chances, holding three games balls in the second but David's retrieving and nerve under pressure was too much and she closed out the match in 42 minutes.
The title was David's 52nd of her career and she will go into next week's Singapore Open in ominous form.
Final:
[1] N David (MAS) bt [2] J Duncalf (ENG) 11/6 12/10 11/5 (42m)
Semi Final:
[1] N David (MAS) bt [7] O Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11/9 12-10 11/4 (45m)
[2] J Duncalf (ENG) bt [8] C Serme (FRA) 14/12 11/5 11/8 (39m)
Quarter Final:
[1] N David (MAS) bt [6] L Massaro (ENG) 11/7 9/11 11/1 11/6 (57m)
[7] O Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt R Grinham (AUS) 11/7 4/11 11/9 2/11 11/9 (60m)
[8] C Serme (FRA) bt [Q] J King (NZL) 11/6 11/8 11/8 (40m)
[2] J Duncalf (ENG) bt [5] K Brown (AUS) 9/11 6/11 12/10 11/6 11/4 (76m)
1st Round:
[1] N David (MAS) bt D Urquhart (AUS) 11/7 11/6 11/4 (31m)
[6] L Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] S Kippax (ENG) 11/9 12/10 11/7 (44m)
[3] R Grinham (AUS) bt A Au (HKG) 11/8 7/11 11/6 11/9 (39m)
[7] O Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt w/c D Arnold (MAS) 10/12 9/11 14/12 11/9 11/3 (75m)
[8] C Serme (FRA) bt R El Weleily (EGY) 11/9 8/11 11/8 8/11 11/9 (66m)
[Q] J King (NZL) bt [4] M Perry (IRL) 11/9 11/2 11/6 (40m)
[5] K Brown (AUS) bt [Q] D Pallikal (IND) 6/11 11/4 13/11 7/11 11/3 (76m)
[2] J Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] L Wee Wern (MAS) 11/5 11/9 12/10 (39m)
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