Nicol David Wins CIMB Nicol David KL Open
CIMB Nicol David KL Open, Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Annie Au (HKG) 11-4, 12-10, 11-9
Nicol David wins the new WSA World Series Gold event bearing her name, as she defeated Annie Au in the $60K CIMB Nicol David KL Open Championship.
In front of a home crowd, the Malaysian six-time world champion put down a spirited challenge from Au, who forced a tie-break second game, to win her 60th WSA World Tour title. David said after the match: “"I'm happy to have won the CIMB Nicol David KL Open. Knowing that it's named after me, it feels extra special to win it."
The tournament had otherwise been dominated by underdogs at the Berjaya Time Square shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. No2 seed Jenny Duncalf was eliminated by teenage prodigy and qualifier Nour El Sherbini,who went on to also beat experienced No6 seed Rachael Grinham. Fellow qualifier Dipika Pallikal got the better of No8 seed Kasey Brown, whilst eventual finalist, the unseeded Annie Au beat No7 seed Natalie Grinham, and No3 Laura Massaro on her way to the final.
Tournament sponsors announced in February that the CIMB KL Open would be subject to an upgrade and rebrand for this years event, boosting the total prize-money and taking on David’s name as a tribute to her achievements in the squash world. David had previously won seven CIMB KL Open titles before the event’s promotion to World Series status.
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 15-13, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7
Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-5, 11-2, 11-6
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 13-11, 11-6, 11-2
Annie Au (HKG) bt [3] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6
[Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-9, 11-1, 1-11, 12-10
[5] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
Annie Au (HKG) bt [7] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-6
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Samantha Teran (MEX) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
[6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10
[Q] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9
Issued by iSPORTgroup.com