Laura Massaro Beats Alison Waters To Claim $70K Kuala Lumpur World Series Title
from WSA Media
March 31, 2013 - Laura Massaro recorded her second ever World Series title after coming through to win the 2013 CIMB KL Open.
The final, held in front of crowds at the Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur, was without the two top seeds, with Nicol David falling to Massaro in yesterday’s semi-final, and Raneem El Weleily falling in the second round by way of Natalie Grinham.
Massaro, world ranked No.3, showed excellent form right from the first round, in which she defeated experienced Latasha Khan of the USA. She then beat in-form Line Hansen in the second round, following the Dane’s upset of Rachael Grinham in their opening clash.
Her run continued with a strong four-game win over Irishwoman Madeline Perry to set up her excellent defeat of seven-time world champion, Nicol David.
Her opponent in today’s final will also be thrilled at a World Series final finish. Alison Waters had twelve months out of the game with an Achilles injury in 2011, and spent much of last season rebuilding her form and climbing back up the world rankings. She held the No.35 spot at this time last year but has since recovered to sit at No.5 in the world.
Waters faced a tricky opening tie against Joey Chan of Hong Kong, whom she beat in a frantic five-games. Her form steadied as she beat Australian Kasey Brown in four games in the second round, and saw an excellent win against higher seed Nour El Sherbini in a five-game thriller to reach the semi’s.
A semi-final contest against Joelle King swung Waters’ way with the help of two tie-break deciders, to allow the Englishwoman her first World Series final since 2010’s Australian Open.
The first World Series final since that Australian Open to hold two British finalists, both Massaro and Waters were up for the challenge, and it was Massaro who took the first game with by a narrow 11-9 margin.
As the match progressed Massaro’s good form continued to be evident, whilst Waters, having played three more games than her opponent this week, began to slow.
Still competitive, Massaro broke away earlier in the second game to double her lead 11-7, before completing the win in the third to record her 11th WSA World Tour title, and second World Series title of her career.
Massaro tweeted to fans and followers after the match, saying: “I won!! KL Open champion. My 2nd ever World Series title, so excited! Massive thanks to everyone who helped me achieve my win this week! You know who you are! Couldn't do it without you!”
After an excellent campaign, the English pair will now focus on the next World Series event on the WSA calendar, the Allam British Open in May. With the English contingent proving strong in Malaysia, hopes will be high heading into the event on home soil.
Final:
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (44m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [1] Nicol David (MAS) 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [7] Joelle King (NZL) 12-10, 11-5, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-2 (43m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [12] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-2, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5 (53m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5 (51m)
[7] Joelle King (NZL) bt [11] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10 (63m)
2nd round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [14] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (46m)
[8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [15] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-4 (48m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (35m)
[12] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (96m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [13] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 (50m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [10] Annie Au (HKG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 (30m)
[7] Joelle King (NZL) bt [9] Camille Serme (FRA) 12-10, 13-15, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8 (90m)
[11] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-6 (48m)
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)
[14] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9 (72m)
[8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-1, 11-3, 11-5 (23m)
[15] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-7, 11-4, 19-17 (30m)
Line Hansen (DEN) bt [16] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 (32m)
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 16-14, 11-4, 11-3 (39m)
[12] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3 (28m)
[13] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5 (50m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 6-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)
[10] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 12-10 (40m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 14-12 (63m)
[9] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (30m)
[7] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
[11] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (19m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-1 (28m)
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