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Nicol made to work for her opening victory


KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Nicol David is glad to get the first round out of the way, especially after huffing and puffing her way past former world champion Vanessa Atkinson of Holland in the CIMB Malaysian Open at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The Penangite, who is gunning for an historic fifth Malaysian Open crown, took 38 minutes to prevail 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 and check into the last eight.

Nicol, who retained her World Games crown in Taiwan last week, will face unseeded Kasey Brown of Australia in the glass court at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara for a place in the semi-finals.

Brown had scored an upset win when she beat sixth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt 12-10, 11-5, 11-7 in 33 minutes.

Nicol, who won 10 Women’s International Squash Players Association titles last year, said it was always difficult to play the first round match.

“I am glad I got that out of the way. We have played each other many times and know each other’s game well. Vanessa played really well and I had to play the right shots,” said Nicol.

Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who was at the court to watch Nicol’s game against Atkinson, later said that he would suggest to the Cabinet to name the glass court after Nicol.

Nicol thanked him for the gesture.

It was the end of the road for national No. 2 Delia Arnold, who lost 5-11, 4-11, 8-11 to third seed Natalie Grinham of Holland in 31 minutes.

Natalie will face eighth seed Madeline Perry of Ireland in the quarter-finals.

Natalie’s elder sister Rachael, meanwhile, came back from two sets down to beat Isabelle Stoehr of France 11-13, 6-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 in 53 minutes.

She will face fifth seed Jenny Duncalf of England for a place in the semi-finals. - THE STAR

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