NICOL MAKES SEMI-FINALS
NICOL David moved to within one of her first PSA Tour final in 15 months after reaching the Ciudad de Floridablanca semi-finals in Colombia on Thursday.
The eight-time world champion overcame stiff resistance by Hong Kong’s Joey Chan to win two tie-breaks before sealing a 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 victory in the quarter-finals.
That set up a last-four meeting with England’s Alison Waters, the third seed who overcame compatriot Victoria Lust 11-7, 16-18, 11-7, 7-11, 15-13 after saving two match points in the final game.
World No 7 Nicol, who has not made a final since winning the Hong Kong Open in December 2015, takes a 25-2 head-to-head record against 10th-ranked Alison into their semi-final clash.
“I felt good at the start and I think it was a good match,” said second seeded Nicol after beating World No 17 Joey for the sixth time in as many meetings.
“I’m really excited to play in the semis here in Colombia. It’s such a great venue, I’ve been feeling good and I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
Also through to the last-four was top seed Amanda Sobhy, who downed Tesni Evans of Wales 11-7, 11-4, 11-6.
Amanda set up an all-American meeting with unseeded Olivia Blatchford, who advanced after England’s Emily Whitlock withdrew while trailing 11-4, 10-12, 115.
Meanwhile, national junior S. Sivasangari and defending Sea Games champion Rachel Arnold both crashed out in the first round of the Women’s Squash Week tournament in Calgary, Canada on Thursday.
Despite being seeded eighth, Sivasangari found no way past unseeded Canadian Samantha Cornett in an 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 defeat while Rachel succumbed to former world champion Rachael Grinham, the top seed from Australia, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 115.