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Nicol teruskan penguasaan

Tundukkan bintang tuan rumah saingan Terbuka Hong Kong

RATU skuasy negara, Nicol David, meneruskan penguasaannya dalam kejohanan Terbuka Hong Kong apabila menundukkan pemain tempatan, Rebecca Chiu 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, semalam.

Pemain nombor satu dunia berusia 25 tahun itu yang memburu gelaran ketiga berturut-turut di Terbuka Hong Kong, mengambil masa 34 minit untuk menumbangkan Rebecca - selaku pilihan ke-13 kejohanan, yang mendapat sokongan padu daripada penyokong tempatan.

"Ia menjadi perlawanan yang hebat untuk disaksikan oleh penonton di sini, Mereka benar-benar memberikan sokongan padu kepada Rebecca dan menyuntik semangatnya untuk memberi tentangan sengit kepada saya.

"Saya sedar pada set keempat saya perlu kembali saya tidak tergelincir dan memaksa Rebecca terpaksa mengikut rentak permainan saya," kata Nicol.

Bagi Rebecca pula, tahun ini dia tetap berasa gembira dapat memberikan tentangan sengit terhadap Nicol berbanding permainannya pada tahun lalu yang menyaksikan dia menyerah mudah kepada pemain nombor satu dunia itu.

Nicol, memulakan permainan dengan langkah kanan apabila berjaya mendahului Rebecca pada dua set pertama sebelum tewas di set ketiga di tangan Rebecca yang mendapat sokongan padu penonton.

Set keempat menyaksikan Nicol pantas memburu mata demi mata dan mengunci langkah Rebecca untuk menang 11-2 serta menempah tempat ke saingan suku akhir yang nyata lebih mencabar.

Sementara itu, cabaran pemain lelaki negara berakhir semalam apabila Ong Beng Hee tunduk kepada pilihan ketiga, James Willstrop dari England, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 dalam perlawanan selama 38 minit.

Seorang lagi pemain negara, Azlan Iskandar, turut tumbang di tangan pemain Perancis yang menduduki ranking kedua dunia serta finalis Terbuka Qatar, Gregory Gaultier 11-6, 11-5, 11-4.

BH

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