Singapore Women's Masters Squash Championship, Singapore

04-Aug, Final:

Nicol David Masters Singapore In Latest Triumph

Nicol David showed fans in Singapore just why she is the world squash number one with a fine display that was full of running and crafty shot-making, outlasting her closest rival Natalie Grinham 9-6, 9-5, 9-5 in 54 minutes in today's final to win the inaugural Women’s CIMB Singapore Masters at the Kallang Squash Centre in Singapore.

The straight games scoreline belied a battle of attrition where both players were not only matching physical strengths but mental agility. Natalie was no slouch, make no mistakes about that, but Nicol’s superior fitness and agility gave her the edge she needed to win the tournament.

It was all business for the two players from the word go. Natalie drew first blood, then went 3-0 up in the first game before Nicol got on the board. When Nicol tied the score at 3-3, Natalie changed the rhythm of the game by lofting the ball and slowing the game down. Evidently, she too believes that Nicol is at her best when playing fast and attacking. For a while, that tactic worked as Natalie took two points to lead 6-4.



But that was as far as she got, the hard work came undone when she gave away cheap points to allow Nicol back in, and the Malaysian proceeded to wrap up the game. For squash fans the 18-minute first game set the tone for the rest of the match.

Nicol started the second game where she left off in the first, streaking to a 4-0 lead. A well-placed winner even provoked a yell of frustration from Natalie. However, Natalie was not about to capitulate. Playing some clever boasts and flicks, and keeping the play to the front, she managed to close the score to 4-3. Again Nicol stepped up a gear, pulling to 7-3 in front, and closing out the game 9-5.

Two games down, Natalie needed something special to turn the match around – or maybe for Nicol to let up. But this was not to be her day as Nicol kept up the pressure and duly sealed the win.

Commenting on her play, Natalie said: "Nicol played really well, she didn’t make many errors and in the end I started making a few. She gets to a lot more balls than other people, but I was prepared to play longer rallies.

"I still have a bit of soreness in my Achilles, and it affected my explosiveness and push-off. I was a little frustrated with myself in the third set when I could feel the soreness. Playing Nicol you really need to be at your best, and I look forward to more matches with her," added the world No2 from Australia.

For Nicol, she acknowledged that playing Natalie was always going to be difficult. In her own words: "I really have to be mentally tough to play Natalie, I have to work hard and play long rallies to win the points. To start my season again with two wins from two tournaments is great for me. I will definitely be spending some of my prize money tonight!”

Asked about Natalie’s lofted ball tactics, Nicol commented: “You have to expect your opponent to mix things up and use whatever way possible to work the ball, so I had to be really disciplined and not try to do anything special in the air. You can’t do an attacking shot when the ball’s in the air like that so you have to be really patient.

“The key is to force the pressure back on your opponent and in the end Natalie started making a few mistakes. My focus was still up and down but I kept my rhythm and didn’t want to change anything or do anything special, I just wanted to stay tough and play my game and make her work hard.”

Two titles in seven days takes Nicol’s tally to 21 from 71 WISPA tournaments played, and sits her two tournament wins behind Natalie’s sister Rachael among the active list. Nicol’s next target is the Forexx Dutch Open from 30 August in Amsterdam, a city which both Natalie and Nicol can call home. Amsterdam is Nicol’s training base and she will have plenty of fans cheering her on there.

At the same time, Natalie’s husband and Dutch squash champion Tommy Berden will be organising the tournament, and she will be hoping for a change of fortunes. With both ladies seeded first and second, another Nicol-Natalie final could be on the cards in four weeks’ time.

"In Singapore, it is Nicol who emerged victor and the reception here has been tremendous, with the final attended by well over 500 squash fans who will surely be looking forward to the next big tournament to be held here," said event spokesman Philip Goh. "This week’s top action has certainly re-awakened interest in squash in this island republic and augurs well for more good things to come."


 

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03-Aug, Semi-Finals:

[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (Aus)       9/2, 9/2, 9/3 (23m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt [4] Tania Bailey (Eng)      9/6, 9/6, 9/1 (46m)

Red hot Nicol storms into Singapore final

It was full-power from the word go as World No 1 and top seed Nicol David took 23 minutes to despatch third seed Rachael Grinham in straight games to set up a final date with Natalie Grinham in inaugural CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters at the Kallang Squash Centre here.

It was yet another capacity turnout at the Kallang Squash Centre and mostly fans of Nicol, judging from their cheers. And they were treated to two superb matches, straight games notwithstanding.

Unlike the previous two evenings when Nicol took time to get going, the champion nicknamed the 'Duracell Bunny' stamped her authority right from the start. Playing a fast-paced game, she never allowed Rachael to settle. Displaying tremendous athleticism that wowed her admiring fans, Nicol was always faster to the ball and deadlier on the kill.

Two games down, Rachael changed her tactics in an effort to get back in, playing the ball up and slowing the game down. But Nicol was in no mood to let up and kept hitting winners.

Natalie Grinham, meanwhile, was in no mood to let Tania Bailey dictate terms in the evening's first semi-final.

Second seed Natalie took twice as long as Nicol, but was just as effective in downing fourth seed Bailey, also in straight games, avenging her defeat to the Englishwoman a week ago in Kuala Lumpur.

The first game as nip and tuck and at one stage, it looked as though Tania was in the ascendant. But the younger Grinham started stretching out the rallies and Bailey tired.

The world's top two players last met in late April in the final of the Seoul Open when Natalie stopped Nicol's unbeaten streak at 51 matches, winning 9-4, 9-4, 9-0 in 43 minutes.

Asked if she had revenge on her mind, having lost to Natalie the last time the pair met, Nicol said: "Not really. I just want to make sure I keep to what I'm doing, maybe bring my game up another level."

Just what these two squash queens will serve up should they bring the game up to another level, fans in Singapore cannot wait to find out. The final tomorrow will be held at 4pm local time. Admission is free and a full house is guaranteed.

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02-Aug:
Quarter-Finals:

[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [5] Vicky Botwright (Eng)                  10/8, 9/0, 9/3 (44m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)  5/9, 9/5, 9/0, 7/9, 9/4 (68m)
[4] Tania Bailey (Eng) by [8] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)                  8/10, 9/3, 3/9, 9/1, 9/1 (84m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt [7] Madeline Perry (Irl)              9/5, 9/5, 9/2 (38m)

Top Four through to Singapore Semis

It will be top seed against third, and second seed against fourth in the semi-finals of the inaugural CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters tomorrow after a pulsating – and long – evening of quarter-final matches at the Kallang Squash Centre.

World No 1 Nicol David did not disappoint her fans, winning in straight games, despite yet again getting off to a slow start. This time, it was tournament fifth seed Vicky Botwright who pushed David into producing her 'A' game, the first game going to deuce.

Thereafter, David took her game up a notch and was always in control, dominating the second and third games. Both players delighted the capacity Kallang crowd with deft shots and played with great sportsmanship, delivering squash of the highest order, notwithstanding the lopsided scores in the latter two sets.

For a second time in seven days, David will be facing Australia's Rachel Grinham in a semi-final match. In Kuala Lumpur last Friday, David won 3-2 but memories of Rachael blanking her in the first game still burns.

Earlier, sixth-seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt brought the best out of third seed Rachael in an enthralling 68min encounter which the Egyptian could have won had she been able to keep her head in the match. Omneya mixed some of the most astonishing and creative winners with loose shots that gave away cheap points, alternately thrilling and despairing her new fans in Singapore.

The evening got off to a rousing start with fourth seed Tania Bailey taken the distance by eighth seed Jenny Duncalf in an 84min encounter that threw the evening's playing schedule out of kilter. Bailey had to come from 2-1 down to beat Duncalf 3-2 in match that ebbed and flowed, keeping the fans spellbound.

The scene was set from the first game when Duncalf matched Bailey stroke for stroke, paying little heed to her opponent's higher ranking. Although playing catch-up for most of the game, including facing game-point, it was Duncalf who pushed on from 7-8 behind to win 10-8.

The pair then traded 9-3 games before Bailey found her groove to take the next two games to seal victory.

A relieved Bailey thus avenged her defeat to Duncalf in June's European Championship final.

The evening's second quarter-final went with script with Natalie Grinham showing no sign of the Achilles tendon twinge she picked up in Kuala Lumpur the previous week in despatching Ireland's Madeline Perry in straight games.

All set for two exciting semi-final matches tomorrow which promises to serve up more squash of the highest quality – with the world's top four players doing battle yet again.