RUTHLESS NICOL
Former World No 1 storms into San Francisco final
DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my
NICOL David showed no mercy in demolishing India’s Dipika Pallikal to storm into the final of the Netsuite Open in San Francisco on Friday. The former World No 1 dropped just three points in the first two games as she made short work of Dipika to win their semi-final clash 11-3, 11-0, 11-5.
Nicol advanced to the final where she will meet England’s Sarah-Jane Perry for a chance to win her 82nd career PSA Tour title.
Following her exit from the quarter-finals of the China Open last month, the 34year-old Nicol is delighted to be in a final for the first time since March when the World No 5 won in Colombia.
“I’m just so pleased to get into the final here in San Francisco,” said Nicol, who won the first seven points of the contest before Dipika got on the board in the first game.
“It’s my first time in the final here, so it will be very exciting for me to play in front of a great crowd. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and I’m really going to give it a good go.
“Whoever is in the final is going to be a contender and I’m up for the battle.”
Nicol’s victory over Dipika was her 11th in as many meetings with her Asian rival as the eight-time world champion took advantage of having a day off following a fivegame win over Victoria Lust in Thursday’s quarter-finals.
“After a five-gamer in the quarter-finals, you really have to start well,” said Nicol. “She’s a dangerous player so I needed to be sharp from the word go.
“The court really worked for me today and I found my lengths, I found my volleys and I was really pleased to win that 3-0 and play the way I played today.”
On Friday, World No 6 Sarah-Jane upset top seed Laura Massaro of England 11-9, 911, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 to reach her first final since 2015.
“I played some really good squash, Laura played some really fantastic squash, so I’m really happy to come out with a win against a really tough opponent,” said Sarah-Jane, who has won her last three meetings with Nicol, including two in 2017.