David out for revenge in decider

HULL: World No.1 Nicol David had revenge on her mind after an impressive performance on Saturday saw her carry her defence of the British Open title into the final.

David’s 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 win over Alison Waters earned her another meeting with Laura Massaro, whose two victories over the record-breaking Malaysian in Kuala Lumpur this year prompted suggestions David was in the twilight of her career.

However, the 29-year-old looked as good as ever while beating Waters, who had been good enough to beat David in New York in September but was undone by the champion’s ability to cope with constantly varying conditions.

Weather had forced the women’s event into three different venues in five days, with two very different types of court and constantly varying temperatures, but David played as if nothing had changed.

Her ability to make the first dart into the front court was more effective than it has ever been, enabling her to win quick points with a daring which might once have been beyond her. The match lasted only 27 minutes

Asked if she had been in a hurry, she said: ‘‘It felt like it, yes. But Alison makes it like that because she plays like that. Alison started really strong and I found myself hanging back a bit, when I needed to step forward.’’

When she was asked about playing in the final and aiming for her fifth British Open title, David affected as if to have forgotten that.

‘‘Oh yes, I am in the final,’’ she said. ‘‘I have just been focusing completely on trying to win this match. Yes, of course I am pleased.’’

In the men’s tournament, Gregory Gaultier, the unpredictably brilliant former world No.1 from France, produced one of his finest performances to end the British Open defence of the recordbreaking Nick Matthew.

The only Englishman ever to have won the sport’s oldest title three times was beaten 9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 in the semi-final.