David Was Unstoppable Force In First Australian Open
by Elliot Selby
August 16, 2011 - Appearing in her first Australian Open, Nicol David was in unstoppable form all week and ran away with the title without conceding a game.
Having been stunned in the CIMB Singapore Masters semi final two weeks ago by Laura Massaro, David was looking to bounce back in style. As she done on several occasions in the past, David responds superbly from a shock loss to even greater success. The Australian Open was no exception.
The tournament featured a high quality line up and with a increase in prize fund and crucial World Series points up for grabs, there was a lot at stake.
A 32 draw meant that the many lower ranked local and up and coming players got a chance to challenge the best players in the world. Of all the sixteen seeds in action, all but one made it through safely to the second round. New Zealand's 15th seed Kylie Lindsay was beaten in four games by England Junior star Emily Whitlock. The only seeds to be pushed beyond three games were; 14th seed Line Hansen who dropped the first game before beating Dutch girl Milou Van Der Heijden, 12th seed Delia Arnold who was given a scare by Czech's Olga Ertlova, eventually coming through in five games and 16th seed Gaby Huber who finished strongly against Australia's Sarah Cardwell after dropping the second game.
The second round saw seven out of the top eight seeds move into the quarter finals. David was given a good test by 17 year old Whitlock whilst world number two Jenny Duncalf eased past Huber. Madeline Perry and Rachael Grinham came through after both dropped the second game to Joey Chan and Low Wee Wern respectively. There were also wins for Annie Au, Donna Urquhart and Joelle King. Fifth seed Kasey Brown given the hard task of taking on former world number two Natalie Grinham. Grinham, making her way back up the rankings after having her first child was relentless with her speed and court coverage and held on in the tough points even with Brown dictating the rallies. Th former Aussie went through in four games.
David led the charge of the world's top four players into the semi finals with a quick fire win over Au. Au struggling with an injury she picked up in the previous round against Hansen, was unable to move properly and after two games called time on the match. Rachael Grinham set up a semi final clash with David after ending compatriot Urquhart's run in straight games. Defending champion Perry was given a tough challenge by King, closing out the Kiwi in four games. Revenge for Perry, having lost in the first round of the CIMB Malaysian Open to King in July. Duncalf also progressed, although had to fight her way past Natalie Grinham, finally subduing the Dutch number one in four tight games.
The semi finals saw David and Duncalf set up another final showdown. The home crowd in Canberra were left disappointed when David ended the chances of Grinham. The Aussie former world number one had her chances in the second, holding two game balls, but she couldn't convert them and David closed out the match in three games. Perry wasn't able to claim the title for a second year as she fell to Duncalf. Perry had her chances in the first two games but found herself two games down and although she sped through the third game, Duncalf regrouped to dominate the fourth.
The third World Series final of the year featured the world's number one and two for a third successive time. As she has done on the previous two occasions though it was David who dominated the match and never allowed Duncalf into the match. Duncalf allowed David big leads in the first two games which were too much for her to recover and although she started well in the third the damage had already been done.
A 54th WISPA title for David, in an incredible 70th tour final!
RESULTS:
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11/8 11/6 11/5
Semi Finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11/7 13/11 11/7
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11/8 11/9 2/11 11/4
Quarter Finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 11/0 11/2 4/0
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11/7 11/4 11/7
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [8] Joelle King (NZL) 13/11 2/11 12/10 11/9
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [10] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11/4 12/10 8/11 11/8
2nd Round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11/9 11/7 11/5
[6] Annie Au (HKG) bt [14] Line Hansen (DEN) 14/12 11/4 9/11 11/9
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [9] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11/8 8/11 11/4 11/3
[7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11/6 7/11 11/6 11/8
[8] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11/5 13/11 11/9
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [11] Joey Chan (HKG) 11/8 6/11 11/3 11/2
[10] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [5] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11/9 7/11 12/10 11/9
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [16] Gabby Huber (SWI) 11/5 11/3 11/1
1st Round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Samantha Davies (AUS) 11/3 11/6 11/2
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [15] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11/9 7/11 11/4 11/3
[6] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 11/5 11/1 11/3
[14] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) 8/11 11/9 11/8 11/9
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11/6 11/5 11/2
[9] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [Q] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) 11/4 11/6 11/5
[7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [Q] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 11/7 11/1 11/3
[13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [Q] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 11/4 11/8 11/2
[12] Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 5/11 11/9 9/11 11/6 11/6
[8] Joelle King (NZL) bt Maggy Marshall (AUS) 11/6 11/3 11/2
[11] Joey Chan (HKG) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 11/3 11/2 11/3
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11/5 11/2 11/3
[10] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11/2 11/4 11/5
[5] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Amanda Cranston (NZL) 11/2 11/7 11/3
[16] Gabby Huber (SWI) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11/8 8/11 11/5 11/1
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Vanessa Pickerd (AUS) 11/5 11/3 11/3
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