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Nicol
David triumphs
in Cleveland after a close-fought win over Laura Massaro to
claim the WSA Gold $50k Cleveland Classic 2012.
The
world No1 lost out at the hand of Massaro last year, with
Cleveland 2011 being one of just two WSA titles she was unable
to win. Revenge was exacted this year however, despite early
signs that the Englishwoman was unwilling to relinquish her
title.
Massaro started strongly, establishing a deliberate rhythm and
showing precise racquet work to reel off four winners on her way
to a 6-0 lead. David was given the chance to counter, after some
unforced errors from her opponent allowed her a way back into
the game. Neither player could keep errors from their game as
they battled for the advantage.
The
English No2 took the first game 11-7, but not before David had
upped the pace, the faster tempo more suiting the Malaysian’s
game and was a sign of things to come.
The
second game was a highly close-fought affair, with neither
player moving out of reach of the other. The scores were level
at 9-9 until a fortunate back-court nick gave Massaro game
ball.
The
following point was the turning point to the match. Massaro,
keen to finish the game off, hit a string of likely winners all
of which were scraped back by David until one such retrieval
lodged itself in the back corner to force the tiebreak. Almost
a similar display of shot returns from Massaro followed, but she
was just unable to find the quality of return to force the World
Champion off guard and succumbed 12-10.
David
didn't find the tin once in the third, buoyed by her fight-back
in the second game. Her improved execution would be decisive in
her taking the game 11-7, with Massaro seeming to have dropped
of the pace.
In the
fourth she began forcing Massaro to the front of the court, an
effective strategy against the English player’s tiring legs.
David raced to a 7-1 lead, heavily utilising the drops and
drives fed from Massaro counter-drops. The Englishwoman still
had some fight in her, coming back to within two points at 9-7,
but a marginal stroke gave David match ball, and after knocking
a backhand overhead into the tin, she hit an unreachable drive
that gave the Malaysian the championship, and her 59thtitle.
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 7-11, 12-10,
11-7, 11-8 (57m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-3, 11-4,
11-6 (31m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
(28m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Annie Au (HKG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-1
(27m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [7] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8,
9-11, 14-12, 11-3 (41m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-8, 4-11,
11-6, 11-2 (40m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-3,
4-1 ret.
1st
round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 11-4, 11-9, 9-11,
8-11, 11-7 (63m)
[8] Annie Au (HKG) bt Camille Serme (FRA) w/o
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-7, 11-9,
11-6 (35m)
[7] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-13,
11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (36m)
[Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [5] Kasey Brown (AUS) 10-12, 11-7,
11-6, 13-11 (62m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-5, 9-11,
11-5 (53m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2
(19m)
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-8, 12-10,
11-7 (52m) |
Life
is Simple: Eat, sleep, play Squash
