Nicol David Shuts Out Field to Win $50K Cleveland Classic by Howard Harding February 5, 2014
- Malaysia's world number one Nicol David continued to demonstrate her
domination of women's squash by clinching the Tub O'Towels Cleveland
Classic trophy in the USA without dropping a game throughout the
tournament.
The 30-year-old from
Penang beat Hong Kong's Annie Au - celebrating her fourth successive
appearance in the final of the Women's Squash Association Gold 50 event
at Cleveland Racquet Club in Cleveland, Ohio, by reclaiming the title.
But Au can hold her
head high after becoming the first qualifier to reach the event's
climax - achieving her stunning run after dismissing three English
world-top-ten-ranked players in quick succession to set up the first
all-Asian final.
Indeed, the
24-year-old left-hander built up a 10-7 lead in the first game before
David responded by saving the three game-balls before converting her
own first to take the opener.
The Malaysian led
throughout the second to extend her lead - and moved ahead from
five-all in the third to close out the match 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 after 35
minutes to take the title for the second time.
"It's a great feeling
- you can't describe it to people - to work that hard in training and
have it pay off on the court," said the jubilant David after her
triumph.
It was the pair's 12th
Tour meeting - but the 16th, including Asian Games and Asian
Championship clashes - with Au still looking for a breakthrough win.
"Nicol is a top player
- no matter how I played the ball she just went and got it," summed up
reigning Asian champion Au, the world No13, later.
The triumph marks David's seventh WSA Tour title in a row - and the 73rd of her career.
RESULTS: Women's Tub O'Towels Cleveland Classic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Final: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Annie Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-5, 11-6 (35m)
