Nicol off to a poor start in Dubai
DEFENDING champion Laura Massaro survived two close games against Nicol David to get her campaign at the PSA Tour World Series Finals off to a successful start in Dubai on Tuesday.
England’s Laura saved three game points in the opening game in her 12-10, 12-10 Group B win over eight-time world champion Nicol, who took to court just days after her physiotherapist for two decades Ronald Fauvel died in Kuala Lumpur.
World No 6 Nicol, who is dedicating the tournament to the memory of Canadian Fauvel, is still in the running to qualify for the semi-finals, however, with matches to come against World No 1 Nour El Sherbini and SarahJane Perry.
“I’m off to a good start, but that’s all it is really, a start,” said Laura, who last played Nicol at last year’s World Series Finals and now stands at 9-26 against Nicol after winning their last two meetings.
“In a best of three it helps you a little bit to know that you did it well last year. If you miss even a few points at the start of the game, it can make such a huge difference. But a win under my belt does not mean anything at this point unless I can get at least one more win.”
Nicol, winner of the World Series Finals in 2011 and 2012, played Nour late yesterday needing a win to keep her semi-final hopes alive.
England’s Sarah-Jane stunned Egyptian Nour 9-11, 11-9, 11-4 to leave the battle for the two semifinal spots in Group B wide open.
In Group A, Nouran Gohar upset fourth seed Raneem El Welily 13-11, 3-11, 11-3 in an all-Egyptian clash while top seed Camille Serme of France rallied from a game down to beat England’s Alison Waters 9-11, 11-5, 11-3. Devinder Singh