Nicol faces Massaro in Australian Open final
Posted on August 19, 2012, Sunday
SPARKLING FORM: File photo shows Nicol returning a shot during a match in a tournament recently. The world number one will meet England’s Massaro in the Australian Open final today. — Bernama photo
CANBERRA: Defending champion Datuk Nicol David was back to her imposing best as she defeated 2010 winner Madeline Perry in the semi-finals of the Australian Open squash championships yesterday.
Nicol beat the Perry from Northern Ireland in straight games 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 to set up a final date against England’s Laura Massaro, who took five games to see off India’s Dipika Pallikal 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 3-11, 11-9.
The Malaysian squash queen was pushed hard in Friday’s quarter-finals by Alison Waters, who exposed some chinks in the world number one’s armour, albeit a thrilling contest.
However, she was back to her devastating best against Perry, who admitted later she didn’t have an answer despite going into the semi-finals in great form.
“I had to win a rally 10 times to win a point,” Perry told the media.
“I end up trying to hit the ball lower and lower and that’s why I made so many mistakes. It’s difficult to know how to win a point when she gets everything back and doesn’t make a lot of errors.”
Nicol’s movement on court was superb as she chased down everything, never giving Perry an easy point, throughout the match.
“The match yesterday (Friday) gave me a real motivation for today, to stay focused and stay solid,” Nicol said.
“I was moving well and hitting the ball well so hopefully it will be the same tomorrow (today).”
Massaro came from 5-9 in the deciding fifth game to beat Pallikal and deny India a first ever finalist in a major tournament.
Nicol and Massaro have met on 17 occasions with the Malaysian winning 15 times and Massaro twice. However, the Englishwoman has pushed Nicol over the past two years, with her two wins coming in major tournaments in 2011, the Malaysian Open and Singapore Masters. — Bernama
Meanwhile, top seeded Egyptian Ramy Ashour booked his place in the final after overcoming Australian number one Cameron Pilley 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in a brilliant men’s semi-final.
Ashour will play fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad who downed an injured Tom Richards of England 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3. — Bernama
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