New Straits Times

APPROACH

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forward to a good match (in the quarter-finals),” said Nicol, a five-time British Open winner.

Fresh from winning her first PSA Tour title in 15 months at the Ciudad de Floridabla­nca tournament, Nicol said the benefit of returning to the winner’s circle was evident against Joey.

The match might have taken a different turn had Joey, who also lost to Nicol in Colombia two weeks ago, won the second game.

“I feel more comfortabl­e every time I play matches and tournament­s,” said World No 7 Nicol, who extended her unbeaten record against Joey to seven matches.

“I think playing another tournament in Colombia helped me get the feel of what I’m trying to do and it really gives me that confidence to put it

The number of British Open titles won

by Nicol David together.

“Joey was coming at me with all her shots, she didn’t make any errors in that third game and pushed me all the way through the second, so I knew I had to be clinical.”

Camille, who posted an 11-8, 119, 5-11, 11-9 win over Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb, would nominally be considered the favourite based on her World No 2 ranking but for her winless record against Nicol.

Nicol has won 17 matches against Camille, the last coming at the 2016 Hong Kong Open and the former World No 1 believes she is improving with each match.

“I feel more comfortabl­e every time I play matches and tournament­s,” said Nicol, 33. “You get spurred on playing on the glass court, so I think I raise my game up even more.”

The victor of this last-eight tie will meet either English seventh seed Sarah-Jane Perry or Australian Donna Urquhart in the semi-finals today.

 ??  ?? Under-18 winner Siow Yee Xian guided Malacca to the team gold in the MSSM squash championsh­ips in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Under-18 winner Siow Yee Xian guided Malacca to the team gold in the MSSM squash championsh­ips in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

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