Thriller in KL
> Nicol survives first-round nail-biter to overcome Grinham in five games
NICOL DAVID’S squash world title defence got off to an anxious start yesterday as she had to claw back from a game down before putting away first-round opponent Rachael Grinham of Australia.
One of the game’s all-time greats, Nicol has already won a record eight world championships but has seen her game falter of late, surrendering the top rank last September after a historic nine-year run.
The Malaysian, 32, who is now ranked No.5, started crisply in Kuala Lumpur to take the first game 11-4.
But the experienced Grinham – the 2007 world champ – battled back to take the next two games and put the hometown hero’s title hopes in jeopardy.
“Rachael got a string of points from the second game and that caught me off guard,” said Nicol, who upped the tempo and obliterated the tiring Grinham down the stretch, winning the last two games 11-1, 11-2.
“I figured I had to do something extra and readjusted my approach in the final two games. I attacked more and got into my groove after that.”
World No.2 Nour El Sherbini also checked into the second round with a three-game win over Australia’s Donna Urquhart.
Top-ranked Laura Massaro of England had made it into the second round a day earlier, defeating Mexico’s Samantha Teran.
Nicol is seeking to win the PSA World Championship on home soil in Malaysia for the first time after falling short twice before.
Nicol acknowledged before the tournament that her days of squash dominance may be over, and yesterday remarked on what is being seen as one of the most competitive women’s championship events in years.
“It’s tough. You don’t always play a former world champion in the first round, but I have got the court feeling and am already looking forward to the next round to play my best squash,” she said after her 46-minute victory.
Nicol is wary of the threat she will receive when facing world No.11 Alison Waters of England in the second round of the 2016 NAZA PSA Women’s World Squash Championships today.
And world No.15 Delia Arnold is set to face world No.6, Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt in the second round match today. – AFP
UNITED are closing in on the £40m signing of Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches, 18. The Red Devils are also keen to sign Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 22.
FORMER Everton manager David Moyes is desperate to return to Goodison Park if Roberto Martinez is sacked in the summer.
TOTTENHAM are keen to do summer deals for two Lyon players – striker Alexandre Lacazette, 24, and defender Samuel Umtiti, 22.
GOALKEEPER Timo Horn has admitted he could leave Cologne this summer. The 22-year-old is a reported target for Liverpool.
INTERIM Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has played down speculation linking 25-year-old winger Eden Hazard with a move this summer.
CHELSEA will let striker Radamel Falcao, 30, return to Monaco in the summer, when Roma will try to sign him.
winger Kingsley Coman, 19, says the Premier League is the “most interesting league in the world” but he can see himself staying at the German champions for the next three years.
ANFIELD legend Jamie Carragher says defender Mamadou Sakho, 26, “has let himself and Liverpool down badly” over an alleged anti-doping violation.
MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Yaya Toure tweeted his congratulations to Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez (caricature) on being named PFA Player of the Year, saying: “Great to see my African brother win it!”
FORMER Foxes striker Gary Lineker add his congratulations, describing Mahrez on Twitter as “a magnificent footballer and an absolute joy to watch”. £1 = RM5.71