Nicol David Relishes Tournament Of Champions 'Highlight' by Howard Harding 17 January 2014
- Malaysian squash star Nicol David is set to make her long-awaited
debut at this week's JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York -
and admits that competing in the Women's Squash Association Gold event
at Grand Central Terminal will be "the highlight of the year".
David, the 30-year-old
from Penang who has topped the world rankings since 2006, heads a
star-studded field which features all but one of the top 20 women in
the world. Following two days of qualifying, the women's championship
gets underway next Monday (20 January), leading to the final on Friday
(24 January).
"The Tournament of
Champions definitely is the highlight of the year and what better way
to play my first tournament of the year than at Grand Central Station
in New York City," said David as she prepared to leave her Amsterdam
base for New York.
"I'm really thrilled
to be part of this tournament for the first time in my career and can't
wait to absorb the atmosphere that is in store for us. I've been to
Grand Central just to visit the place during my stay in New York and it
has such a buzz to it. I can't imagine how the buzz is going to be as I
step onto the glass court there. Can't wait to get going already."
Top seed David meets a
qualifier in the opening round before a likely quarter-final clash with
fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern, the No8 seed. English opposition could
then line-up for the favourite, with Alison Waters and Jenny Duncalf,
the fourth and seventh seeds, respectively, also lying in the top half
of the draw - and second seed Laura Massaro heading interest in the
lower half of the draw.
Natalie Grinham could
well represent the tournament's 'dark horse'. The Dutch number one is
unseeded, but boasts an eight-match unbeaten run at Grand Central after
winning the title in 2012 and 2013.
The world No10 from
Almere faces France's No5 seed Camille Serme, ranked two places higher,
in the opening round. The winner will face either Ireland's Madeline
Perry or Egypt's No3 seed Raneem El Welily.
1st round draw: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier [8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Latasha Khan (USA) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Qualifier [5] Camille Serme (FRA) v Natalie Grinham (NED) [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Madeline Perry (IRL) [6] Joelle King (NZL) v Kasey Brown (AUS) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier
