Nicol a step closer to end 14-month title drought
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian squash queen Datuk Nicol David is moving closer to end her 14-month title drought after booking a place in the final of the Women’s Squash Open Ciudad de Floridablanca in Colombia on Friday (Saturday in Malaysia).
Nicol, the second seed however, was stretched to a gruelling five-set thriller before securing a 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-6 and 11-2) victory against third seed and world number 10, Alison Waters of England in the semifinal.
The Penangite is very pleased with the victory though she feels a bit tense after losing in the opening set.
“I managed to settle into the game and started hitting my targets well and putting her under pressure.
“I’m glad to get to the final here and will give it a good go.
“When you’re in a final, you’re both there to just go for it and I will be doing just that,” Nicol added.
The eight-time world champion who secured her last victory, back in the 2015 Hong Kong Open in December, will meet Olivia Blatchford of the United States in the final on Saturday (Sunday in Malaysia).
The unseeded Blatchford pulled off a surprise after stunning the top seed and her fellow compatriot, Amanda Sobhy who was forced to retire after injuring her Achilles though leading the deciding set 10-5.
Sobhy won the first two sets 111 and 11-6. — Bernama