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Nicol gunning for her 51st title in Cleveland

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Nicol David will kick start the year by competing in the US$55,000 Cleveland Racquet Classic in Ohio on Sunday.

The five-time world champion, who won all nine Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) titles last year, will be gunning for the 51st title of her career since turning pro in 2000.
The 27-year-old Penangite trained for three weeks under former world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in Melbourne to prepare for the challenges this year.

Nicol, who bagged the Wispa Player of the Year award for a fifth consecutive time last week, will take on a qualifier in the first round.

She will have two Australians in her half of the draw – world No. 7 Kasey Brown and world No. 3 Rachael Grinham.

The Penangite, who also won all 10 titles in 2008, is expected to meet world No. 2 Jenny Duncalf of England in the final.

Nicol last tasted defeat when she was beaten by Duncalf in the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic in November 2009.

But Nicol has been on the roll since, winning all major tournaments like the World Open, British Open, World Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Asian championships.



Star


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