Massaro Comeback Stuns World Number One
by Elliot Selby
July 30, 2011 - Laura Massaro produced the performance of the year so far to stun Nicol David in the semi final of the CIMB Singapore Masters.
The British Champion scored her second win this year over David, following on from her victory over the world number one in the Cleveland Classic final in January.
David started the better of the two and looked to be on her way to tough straight game win after she stormed into a two game lead. Massaro had her chances in the opening two games and responded brilliantly to edge the next two games and force a decider. Although David started well in the fifth, a series of uncharacteristic errors crept into her play and Massaro surged ahead, keeping her momentum to score a memorable win after almost an hour and a half in front of a stunned crowd at VivoCity.
In 2010 and 2011, Massaro is the only person to have beaten David. Having beaten her twice, Massaro joins compatriot Jenny Duncalf as the only person to have beaten David twice in the same year since Vanessa Atkinson back in 2006.
In the final she will face Irish third seed Madeline Perry. The world number four produced a solid display to end the run of France's Camille Serme, who had yesterday stunned Rachael Grinham in the quarter finals. Serme couldn't maintain that same level and although she went toe to toe with Perry for most of the match, she committed numerous unforced errors that gave Perry the advantage.
Perry and Massaro line up for tomorrow's final evenly matched. Both have claimed 8 WISPA titles each and have career head to head of 2-2. Massaro claimed the win in their only meeting this year, at the Cleveland Classic in January. A quality and closely fought final is in prospect as all four of their previous meetings have gone to at least four games.
Whatever the outcome tomorrow Massaro will record a new high in next month's rankings.
Could we have a threat to David's number one ranking in our midst?
Semi Finals:
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [1] Nicol David (MAS) 9/11 7/11 11/8 11/8 11/5 (85m)
[3] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [7] Camille Serme (FRA) 11/7 11/7 11/3 (44m)
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