Sports

Tuesday September 25, 2007

Nicol takes on Rachael in match for a hat-trick of British Open titles

By LIM TEIK HUAT

MANCHESTER: Malaysia's Nicol David is just one win away from a third successive British Open crown.

The top seeded Malaysian stormed to the final of the women's competition with a convincing 9-1, 10-8, 9-3 win over fourth seeded English player Tania Bailey at the National Squash Centre here on Sunday.

She will play against Australian Rachael Grinham in a repeat of last year's final.

The opponent: Nicol faces Rachael Grinham (above) in the final of the British Open.
The third seeded Rachael beat younger sister Natalie, who is also the second seed, 9-3, 10-9, 10-8 in the other semi-final.

Nicol, who took just 41 minutes to secure her place in the final, was glad to have taken her unbeaten record against Bailey in Open tournament to eight matches.

“A three-game score line did not reflect what a good game we played. From our last few matches, she got the hang of what to do and I had to work hard in every rally. It was tough and I'm glad I pulled through,” said Nicol in the official British Open website (
www.squashsite.co.uk).

“It was a great experience winning my first British Open title in Manchester two years ago on this court and I hope I can do it again tomorrow.”

Rachael has an uphill task to prevent Nicol from clinching a hat-trick of British Open titles.

Nicol holds a 15-5 record over Rachael, having not lost to the Australian since the semi-finals of the Qatar Airways Challenge in April 2005. Nicol's most recent victory was in securing her sixth World Tour title of the year at the Dutch Open early this month.

It will be an all-French affair in the men's final between Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier. Both of them upset the form books.

Lincou beat world champion David Palmer of Australia 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 while Gaultier produced a display of brilliant shot-making to chalk up s 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory over world number one Amr Shabana of Egypt.

Gaultier was delighted with his win over the Egyptian top seed and is hoping to go one step better.

“I have risen match after match and I have proved that I am back after a long-term injury. I wanted some wins and I really want this title. I will give a thousand per cent to win it,” he said.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Men: Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Amr Shabana (Egy) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9; Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt David Palmer (Aus) 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

Women: Nicol David (Mas) bt Tania Bailey (Eng) 9-1, 10-8, 9-3; Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt Natalie Grinham (Aus) 9-3, 10-9, 10-8.

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