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Squash - 17. August 2011.

David wins her first Australian Open title

Appearing in her first Australian Open, Nicol David was in unstoppable
form all week and ran away with the title without conceding a game.


Having been stunned in the CIMB Singapore Masters semi final two weeks
ago by Laura Massaro, David was looking to bounce back in style. As she
done on several occasions in the past, David responds superbly from a
shock loss to even greater success. The Australian Open was no exception.


The tournament featured a high quality line up and with a increase in
prize fund and crucial World Series points up for grabs, there was a lot
at stake.


A 32 draw meant that the many lower ranked local and up and coming
players got a chance to challenge the best players in the world. Of all
the sixteen seeds in action, all but one made it through safely to the
second round. New Zealand's 15^th seed Kylie Lindsay was beaten in four
games by England Junior star Emily Whitlock. The only seeds to be pushed
beyond three games were; 14^th seed Line Hansen who dropped the first
game before beating Dutch girl Milou Van Der Heijden, 12^th seed Delia
Arnold who was given a scare by Czech's Olga Ertlova, eventually coming
through in five games and 16^th seed Gaby Huber who finished strongly
against Australia's Sarah Cardwell after dropping the second game.


The second round saw seven out of the top eight seeds move into the
quarter finals. David was given a good test by 17 year old Whitlock
whilst world number two Jenny Duncalf eased past Huber. Madeline Perry
and Rachael Grinham came through after both dropped the second game to
Joey Chan and Low Wee Wern respectively. There were also wins for Annie
Au, Donna Urquhart and Joelle King. Fifth seed Kasey Brown given the
hard task of taking on former world number two Natalie Grinham. Grinham,
making her way back up the rankings after having her first child was
relentless with her speed and court coverage and held on in the tough
points even with Brown dictating the rallies. Th former Aussie went
through in four games.


David led the charge of the world's top four players into the semi
finals with a quick fire win over Au. Au struggling with an injury she
picked up in the previous round against Hansen, was unable to move
properly and after two games called time on the match. Rachael Grinham
set up a semi final clash with David after ending compatriot Urquhart's
run in straight games. Defending champion Perry was given a tough
challenge by King, closing out the Kiwi in four games. Revenge for
Perry, having lost in the first round of the CIMB Malaysian Open to King
in July. Duncalf also progressed, although had to fight her way past
Natalie Grinham, finally subduing the Dutch number one in four tight games.


The semi finals saw David and Duncalf set up another final showdown. The
home crowd in Canberra were left disappointed when David ended the
chances of Grinham. The Aussie former world number one had her chances
in the second, holding two game balls, but she couldn't convert them and
David closed out the match in three games. Perry wasn't able to claim
the title for a second year as she fell to Duncalf. Perry had her
chances in the first two games but found herself two games down and
although she sped through the third game, Duncalf regrouped to dominate
the fourth.


The third World Series final of the year featured the world's number one
and two for a third successive time. As she has done on the previous two
occasions though it was David who dominated the match and never allowed
Duncalf into the match. Duncalf allowed David big leads in the first two
games which were too much for her to recover and although she started
well in the third the damage had already been done.


A 54^th WISPA title for David, in an incredible 70^th tour final!


You can re watch the matches from the quarter finals onwards on
www.psasquashtv.com <http://www.psasquashtv.com/>


Results:


Final:


[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11/8 11/6 11/5


Semi Finals:


[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11/7 13/11 11/7

[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11/8 11/9 2/11 11/4


Quarter Finals:


[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Annie Au (HKG) 11/0 11/2 4/0

[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11/7 11/4 11/7

[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [8] Joelle King (NZL) 13/11 2/11 12/10 11/9

[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [10] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11/4 12/10 8/11 11/8


2^nd Round:


[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11/9 11/7 11/5

[6] Annie Au (HKG) bt [14] Line Hansen (DEN) 14/12 11/4 9/11 11/9

[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [9] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11/8 8/11 11/4 11/3

[7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11/6 7/11 11/6 11/8

[8] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11/5 13/11 11/9

[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [11] Joey Chan (HKG) 11/8 6/11 11/3 11/2

[10] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [5] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11/9 7/11 12/10 11/9

[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [16] Gabby Huber (SWI) 11/5 11/3 11/1


1^st Round:


[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Samantha Davies (AUS) 11/3 11/6 11/2

Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [15] Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11/9 7/11 11/4 11/3

[6] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 11/5 11/1 11/3

[14] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Milou Van Der Heijden (NED) 8/11 11/9 11/8 11/9

[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11/6 11/5 11/2

[9] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [Q] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) 11/4 11/6 11/5

[7] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [Q] Tamika Saxby (AUS) 11/7 11/1 11/3

[13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [Q] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 11/4 11/8 11/2

[12] Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 5/11 11/9 9/11 11/6 11/6

[8] Joelle King (NZL) bt Maggy Marshall (AUS) 11/6 11/3 11/2

[11] Joey Chan (HKG) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 11/3 11/2 11/3

[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11/5 11/2 11/3

[10] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Melody Francis (AUS) 11/2 11/4 11/5

[5] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Amanda Cranston (NZL) 11/2 11/7 11/3

[16] Gabby Huber (SWI) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 11/8 8/11 11/5 11/1

[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Vanessa Pickerd (AUS) 11/5 11/3 11/3

 

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