03/08/2007
WOMEN'S SINGAPORE MASTERS
Nicol David Masters Singapore In Latest Triumph
CIMB
Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2007
Kallang
Squash Centre, Singapore
Reports
Final
Semi Finals
Quarter
Finals
1st Round
Qualifying
Round by
Round Results
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
(Saturday) 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."
Round by
Round Results
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
9-3, 9-5, 9-3 (38m)
[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Line
Hansen (DEN) 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 (28m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Engy
Kheirallah (EGY) 9-6, 9-6, 9-5 (48m)
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q]
Sharon Wee (MAS) 10-8, 9-5, 9-6 (36m)
[8] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Tricia
Chuah (MAS) 9-6, 9-1, 9-1 (27m)
[4] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Shelley
Kitchen (NZL) 9-5, 9-0, 9-0 (47m)
[7] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Alison
Waters (ENG) 9-2, 9-3, 9-2 (38m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt Joannah
Yue (SIN) 9-2, 9-3, 9-5 (25m)
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) bt [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)
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)
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie
Grinham (AUS) 9-6, 9-5, 9-5 (54m) |
Semi finals
Red Hot
Nicol Storms Into Final
Singapore, 3 August 2007
– It was full-power from the word go as World No 1 and top seed Nicol David
(foreground right) took 23 mins to despatch 3 rd seed Rachael
Grinham (background right) 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.
Earlier, 2nd
seed Natalie took twice as long but was just as effective in downing 4th
seed Tania Bailey also in straight games, avenging her defeat to Bailey a
week ago in Kuala Lumpur.
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 the 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.
"Knowing
Rachael was going to start strong, I wasn't going to let her in to play her
game. So I had to really bring my game in first. I've got more comfortable
with the court now, the bounce and spacing, and started to get more of the
feel of the ball, so I am playing a lot better," said Nicol.
Commented
Rachael: "I was making errors when I shouldn't have. It just felt like it
wasn't my day at all. I had to make her go for the ball because once I
started attacking, it just became a lot more dangerous especially when she
can get on to it. I had to float the ball and make sure that she had to win
it. Nothing else was working anyway."
Natalie
Grinham, meanwhile, was in no mood to let Tania Bailey dictate terms in the
evening's first semi-final. 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.
Explained
Tania: "I was feeling a bit tired from yesterday's match with Jenny. I've
had quite a few matches in the past week and my legs were starting to get a
bit heavy and I had to try and go for winners and they were clipping the
tin. I was struggling a bit and obviously Natalie got a lot more confident."
"I feel
good that I've got a lot of things that I've taken from these last two
tournaments. And I'm going to work on them for the next six weeks and come
out even better in the next tournament," Bailey added.
Said
Natalie: "My plan was to move Tania around and get her tired and I think I
did that well. I stayed focused for most of the match. I'm looking forward
to playing Nicol again. Hopefully tomorrow I can move well enough and play
well."
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.
Semi-finals
results:
[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)
Final at
4pm (local time) on Sat, 4 August 2007:
[1] Nicol
David (MAS) vs [2] Natalie Grinham (AUS)
Quarter Finals
Seeds
Stay True To Form In Singapore Quarter-finals
Nicol vs
Vicky and Tania vs Natalie
Jenny Duncalf and Tania Bailey
Singapore, 2 August 2007
– It will be top seed against 3rd, and 2nd
seed against 4th 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 here.
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 5
th 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.
Said
Botwright: "Nicol is simply playing at a level higher. I was making shots
that I thought were winners – and would be winners against some other girl –
but she was just hitting them back. I had to then hit another 'winner', then
another."
"I wanted
to at least get a game and gave it my all in the first game, but when that
was lost, I knew it was not going to be my night," Botwright added.
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.
"Against
Rachael tomorrow, I hope that I can go in more on the ball. I can't let
anything go with her because she is going to go for it," said Nicol.
Earlier,
sixth-seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt brought the best out of 3rd
seed Rachael Grinham 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.
"Omneya was
unbelievable. I just didn't know what to do at times; she just kept mixing
them up. She gets into the game and then gets out of the game, and sometimes
in a game itself, she would be hitting rallies when I thought she was going
for winners. I just found it hard to get focussed. It was a tough match, but
I'm pleased with my game right now," said Rachael, the former World No 1.
The evening
got off to a rousing start with 4th seed Tania Bailey taken the
distance by 8th 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, who avenged her defeat to Duncalf in June's European Championship
final, said: "I'd lost to Jenny the last two times we played so I wasn't too
surprised to be 2-1 down. I was really struggling at one stage as she has
very good hold and does a lot with the ball including little boasts that I
wasn't able to get to.
"Once
I settled down and relaxed, I started playing a better length and lot
tighter and regained control," Bailey added.
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.
"I thought
I played well and was very focused today so hopefully tomorrow I can just
relax and play my game," said Natalie.
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.
Quarter-finals results:
[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) bt [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)
Updated
Semi-finals draw:
[1]
Nicol David (MAS) vs [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 8.00pm
local time
[4] Tania
Bailey (ENG) vs [2] Natalie Grinham
1st Round
Favourites rule in Singapore
Nicol
David
Singapore, 1 August 2007 – The eight seeded
players are safely through to the quarter-finals with straight games being
the order of the day in Round 1 of the Main Draw at the inaugural CIMB
Singapore Women's Squash Masters.
Sixth-seed
Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt found tough opposition from Sharon Wee as the
Malaysian qualifier put up a gritty display going down 10-8, 9-5, 9-6.
Former
World No 1 Rachael Grinham was also stretched by another qualifier, Engy
Kherallah of Egypt, winning 9-6, 9-6, 9-5 in a 48-minute battle.
New
Zealand's Shelley Kitchen, who climbed three places to 10th in
the newly released WISPA rankings, was unable to find inspiration from her
latest rankings boost, going down 9-5, 9-0, 9-0 to England's Tania Bailey,
despite Bailey needing an ice-pack to salve a mid-game injury.
The top two
seeds found things easier. Natalie Grinham took 25 mins to subdue
Singapore's Joannah Yue, while Nicol David was kept busy for 38 mins by Hong
Kong's Rebecca Chiu.
Said Nicol:
"It took me a while to get going. I found it hard to keep my focus but once
I got locked in, it was smooth sailing. Rebecca made it really tough with
lots of nifty shots."
Tomorrow's
quarter-final matches will run back-to-back at the show-court which seats
400. spectators.
CIMB
Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2007
Kallang
Squash Centre, Singapore
Main
Draw Round 1 results:
[1] Nicol
David (MAS) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 9-3, 9-5,
9-3 (38m)
[5] Vicky
Botwright (ENG) bt [Q] Line Hansen (DEN) 9-4, 9-3,
9-3 (28m)
[3] Rachael
Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 9-6, 9-6, 9-5
(48m)
[6] Omneya
Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Sharon Wee (MAS) 10-8, 9-5, 9-6 (36m)
[8] Jenny
Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Tricia Chuah (MAS) 9-6, 9-1,
9-1 (27m)
[4] Tania
Bailey (ENG) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-5,
9-0, 9-0 (47m)
[7]
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Alison Waters (ENG)
9-2, 9-3, 9-2 (38m)
[2] Natalie
Grinham (AUS) bt Joannah Yue (SIN) 9-2, 9-3,
9-5 (25m)
Updated
Quarter-finals draw:
[1] Nicol
David (MAS) vs [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 8.45pm
local time
[3] Rachael
Grinham (AUS) vs [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 8.00pm local time
[8] Jenny
Duncalf (ENG) vs [4] Tania Bailey (ENG) 6.30pm
local time
[2] Natalie
Grinham (AUS) vs [7] Madeline Perry (IRL) 7.15pm local
time
Qualifying
Top
Seeded Qualifiers Safely Through To Main Draw
Singapore,
31 July 2007 – The
four top-seeded qualifiers safely negotiated their way through to the Main
Draw after qualifying rounds concluded at the CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash
Masters 2007 at the Kallang Squash Centre here.
World No 15 Engy Kheirallah of
Egypt defeated India’s Joshna Chinappa in straight games. A hard-fought
second game proved crucial as the Indian player was unable to convert four
game points.
Malaysia sent two more players
through to the Main Draw to join compatriot and World No 1 Nicol David when
Tricia Chua and Sharon Wee despatched Joey Chan of Hong Kong and Chinatsu
Matsui of Japan respectively.
Another Malaysian, Siti
Munirah Jusoh, was unable to continue her good work from the previous
evening, going down in four games to Denmark’s Line Hansen.
The Main Draw commences
tomorrow with eight Round 1 matches. Among the highlights, top seed Nicol
David of Malaysia meets Hong Kong’s Rebecca Chiu in the top half while
second seed Natalie Grinham of Australia takes on local hope Joannah Yue in
the bottom half.
The tournament will run till
Saturday, August 4, with the final scheduled for a 4pm (local time) start.
CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash Masters 2007
Kallang Squash Centre, Singapore
Qualifying Round 2 results; winners go
through to Main Draw:
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) (1) bt
Joshna Chinappa (IND) (5) 9-2, 10-8, 9-3 (29m)
Tricia Chuah (MAS) (3) bt Joey
Chan (HKG) 9-5, 9-7, 4-9, 9-7 (42m)
Line Hansen (DEN) (4) bt Siti
Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 9-3, 5-9, 9-2, 9-5 (49m)
Sharon Wee (MAS) (2) bt
Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) 9-6, 9-6, 9-6 (36m)
Main Draw: Updated women's 1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) vs
Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 8pm local time
[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) vs
[Q] Line Hansen (DEN) 8pm local time
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) vs
[Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 8pm local time
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) vs
[Q] Sharon Wee (MAS) 8pm local time
[Q] Tricia Chuah (MAS) vs [8]
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 7pm local time
Shelley Kitchen (NZL) vs [4]
Tania Bailey (ENG) 7pm local time
Alison Waters (ENG) vs [7]
Madeline Perry (IRL) 7pm local time
Joannah Yue (SIN) vs [2]
Natalie Grinham (AUS) 7pm local time
Three Seeds Fall In First
Qualifying Round
Delia Arnold
Singapore,
30 July 2007 –
Two of Malaysia’s seeded players for the
Qualifying Round of the CIMB Singapore Women’s Masters 2007 failed to make it
past their first assignments. Lim Yoke Wah (8th seed) fell to Hong Kong’s Joey
Chan in straight sets while (7th) was ousted by compatriot Siti Munirah
Jusoh in four sets.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Elise Ng (6th) went down to Japan’s
Chinatsu Matsui in four sets.
In the evening’s opening matches, India’s Joshna Chinappa
(5th) despatched local hope Serene Lee 9-1, 2-9, 9-7. 9-2. Meanwhile, Denmark
Line Hansen (4) defeated Scandinavian rival Josefa Bertilsson in straight sets
9-2, 9-5, 9-1.
Action continues tomorrow at the Kallang Squash to
determine the four Qualifiers for the Main Draw of the US$43,500 tournament
which will run from August 1 to 4.
CIMB Singapore Women’s Squash
Masters 2007
Kallang Squash Centre, Singapore
Qualifying Round 1 results:
Joshna Chinappa (IND) (5) bt Serene Lee Zhiling (SIN)
9-1, 2-9. 9-7, 9-2 (24m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt Lim Yoke Wah (MAS)
(8) 9-7, 9-6, 9-5 (44m)
Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) bt Delia Arnold (MAS)
(7) 4-9, 9-6, 9-1, 9-4 (39m)
Line Hansen (DEN) (4) bt Josefa Bertilsson (SWE)
9-2, 9-5. 9-1 (22m)
Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) bt Elise Ng (HKG)
(6) 2-9, 9-7, 9-1, 9-4 (36m)
Updated Qualifying Round 2 draw:
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) (1) vs Joshna Chinappa (IND) (5)
7pm local time
Tricia Chuah (MAS) (3) vs Joey Chan (HKG)
7pm local time
Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) vs Line Hansen (DEN) (4)
8pm local time
Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) vs Sharon Wee (MAS)
(2) 8pm local time
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