DIPIKA STANDS IN NICOL’S WAY TO NETSUITE OPEN FINAL
World No. 5 edges past England’s Lust to check into semis
PETALING JAYA: Nicol David survived by the skin of her teeth to check into the semi-finals of the Netsuite Open squash championships in the United States.
The eight-time world champion looked to have blown away a comfortable 2-1 lead over England’s Victoria Lust before recovering to seal an 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10 win at the Bay Club San Francisco on Wednesday.
World No. 5 Nicol looked to be heading for the exit when she trailed 2-7 and 9-10 in the deciding fifth set.
But Nicol won a stroke off world No. 16 Lust to level it 10-10 before going on to seal the next two points.
The match even ended in comical fashion. Nicol, unaware she had won, was preparing to serve when Lust told her that the match was over.
“I was getting ready to serve when I found out I had won!” exclaimed the 34-year-old Nicol.
“I thought I was still match-ball down. I was thinking I had to stay in the match.
“I worked really hard today and I didn’t get my game together. I had to dig deep to stay in the match.
“I played well in patches as I lost focus at times.
“Victoria played really well too. I’ll take a lot from this game. I’m definitely looking forward to being on the glass court next.”
The Penangite will enjoy a day off before the semi-finals, which will be played on the glass court at the Justin Herman Plaza.
She will take on giant-killer Dipika Pallikal of India in the last four.
Dipika ended the interest of home favourite and sixth seed Olivia Blatchford 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 in the last eight.
The other semi-final will be an all-England affair between top seed Laura Massaro and third seed Sarah-Jane Perry.