30-Nov:
Nicol David in Ninth Hong Kong title bid
 18
years after winning her first junior international title there
as a 12-year-old, Malaysia's world number one Nicol David
returns next week to Hong Kong where she is seeded to win her
ninth successive title in the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai
Financial Hong Kong Open.
The WSA World Series Gold event - the last of the year - gets
underway at the Hong Kong Squash Centre on 3rd Dec after two
days of qualifying, before moving onto an all-glass court at the
Hong Kong Cultural Centre for the semi-finals on Saturday 7th
Dec and finals on Sunday 8th Dec.
"Hong Kong has always played a big role in my squash career,
whether it was in juniors or in WSA," said the 30-year-old from
Penang who boasts an unbeaten 40-match record in Hong Kong over
the past decade.
 "I
won my first international junior title here in the under-13's
and, having won my first World title here in 2005, Hong Kong has
a special place in my heart and my life.
"It would be great, of course, to win a ninth title - but I'd
like to just be prepared for the strong competition this year
for now. Every year it gets more and more intense amongst the
players and I certainly have to step up my game compared to the
past years competing here."
David's last defeat in Hong Kong was in December 2003 - to
England's former world champion Cassie Jackman in the World Open
semi-finals. Unseeded, the world top 20 newcomer made her
breakthrough after defeating second seed Natalie Grainger, the
previous year's runner-up.
"It was the best experience of my career, beating Natalie -
the world No2 and the winner of the Qatar Classic before that
event," continued David. "I couldn't believe it at the time and
to actually step on the glass court in 2003 in Hong Kong at my
first World Open semis to play Cassie was such a dream -
especially the set up on the Harbour front. A lot of memories
along the harbour front for me!"
 David
already boasts 70 Tour titles - more than any other player in
the past two decades - but an appearance in the 2013 Hong Kong
Open final would see the Malaysian superstar equal Australian
legend Sarah Fitz-Gerald's 90 finals record.
"That'll be a nice record to match and I would feel truly
honoured to come close to any records Sarah has accomplished,"
said the modest Malaysian, winner of a record seven World Open
titles. "I personally hope I perform throughout the tournament
and if I get that far then it really is a bonus!"
David begins her Hong Kong Open title defence against a
qualifier, before a predicted last three rounds against English
opposition: fifth seed Jenny Duncalf in the quarter-finals; No4
seed Alison Waters in the semis; before a final showdown with
world No2 Laura Massaro in the final.
|
2005, the first of many
2012 just the latest |
