Massaro Comes From Two Down to Beat David in Dramatic British Open Women's Semi by Scarlett Smith
photos squashpics.com
May 16, 2015
- England’s Laura Massaro has reached the British Open final for the
third consecutive year after fighting back from a match ball down to
win a dramatic and thrilling semi-final against the World No.1 Nicol
David.
Massaro fought back from two games down and 5-0 down in the third game
to strike back and win 5/11, 9/11 11/9, 12/10, 11/8 in an epic 77
minutes.
A delighted Massaro said: “I just thought at two games down and 5-0
down and two games down I had nothing to lose. I thought at that
point that it might even be a little bit embarrassing, I was so
disappointed after the Commonwealth Games final and was thinking on the
way here that I just didn't want that to happen again, so I think I
just relaxed at that point.
“I was getting a better length and putting her short a little bit
more. I wanted to live and die on my own sword, if I’m going down
then I’m going down fighting, being positive and attacking and then
that ended up making the difference.
“I've put in a shed load of fitness work, I wasn't feeling particularly
tired, not like I've done in the past. It felt like it was
whoever held their nerve at the end. I've got good mental freshness
from the break that I've had and I always have belief when I play
against Nicol.
“It’s huge to be in the British Open final, that’s three finals in
three years so regardless of what happens tomorrow I’m really proud of
that.”
Massaro was cheered on by a capacity crowd at the Airco Arena in Hull
and thanked the crowd for their support in her post-match interview.
“It’s so nice for the English players to play in front of a home crowd,
especially because it doesn’t happen that often. When I won that
fourth game and everyone just roared it shocked me a bit, so you come
on fighting for them and every time you get a roar it lifts me and it
puts her down. I know how that feels having been on the reverse
of it in Malaysia and Egypt,” added Massaro.
Nicol David praised her opponent afterwards: “She found her composure
and didn’t make many mistakes in the last couple of games, kept it
really tight and took her opportunities when they were there.
There’s no fear for her playing me, she has nothing to lose. I
have to be the one to step up my game now.”
Massaro faces Camille Serme in tomorrow’s final after she made history
in Hull by becoming the first French woman to ever reach the final of
the prestigious event.
Camille: “I used a lot of energy yesterday so today it was good that I
won 3-0 and hopefully I've saved some energy for tomorrow.
"It's the first time I've ever reached a British Open final so I really
want to do well. I've heard it’s the first time a French woman has ever
been in a British Open final, so I’m really happy and proud. In France
we don’t really speak about squash and even less about women’s squash,
so every time I go out on court I want to do well so the media can talk
about us.”
