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Nicol ousts Tranfield
By SquashTalk staff © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
August 22, 2003 

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Nicol David Powers Through To Malaysian Open Semis

Local star Nicol David, a qualifier, continued her magnificent run of form in the Mulpha-Head Women's Malaysian Open Squash Championship with a stunning straight games upset over England's world No10 Jenny Tranfield to reach the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur.

David, who knocked out seeded compatriot Sharon Wee to reach the quarter-finals, started slowly against the No3 seed as Tranfield raced to a 5-1 lead. The 19-year-old twice former world junior champion from Penang composed herself and picked up every shot hit by Tranfield to grab the first game.

In the next game, it was Nicol's turn to start with a bang, sending the England player scampering all over the court. After just 28 minutes, Nicol David clinched her 9-6 9-2 9-3 win - without doubt one of the best of her career.

"I went into the match without any expectations as I was playing a top 10 player but I remained calm on court," said Nicol to the New Straits Times. "I gave it my all against Jenny and although I committed a few errors in the first game, I managed to increase the tempo and managed a good win."

The former world No16, now ranked 39 after a long layoff last year, faces a surprise opponent in the semi-finals. New Zealander Shelley Kitchen, the 5th seed, secured victory over Rebecca Macree after 68 minutes when the top-seeded Englishwoman retired with the score at 7-9 9-2 10-8 6-4. Macree, the world No7 and runner-up in the 2002 event, was suffering with flu and coughing throughout the match.

On her match against Shelley, Nicol said: "I have lost to Shelley before (in the qualifying finals of the Texas Open earlier this year) as she is a good player. It will be a tough match but, as always, and I will give it my best shot."

The other semi-final will be an all-English affair between No2 seed Cassie Jackman and fourth seed Stephanie Brind. Jackman crushed Hong Kong's Asian Games champion Rebecca Chiu, the 7th seed, 9-0 9-3 9-3 in just 28 minutes while Brind needed 43 minutes to overcome sixth-seeded Irish champion Madeline Perry 10-8 9-2 6-9 9-6.

RESULTS: Mulpha-Head Women's Malaysian Open Squash Championship, Kuala Lumpur

Quarter-finals:
[5] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt [1] Rebecca Macree (ENG) 7-9, 9-2, 10-8, 6-4 ret. (68m)
[Q] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 9-6, 9-2, 9-3 (28m)
[4] Stephanie Brind (ENG) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 10-8, 9-2, 6-9, 9-6 (43m)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [7] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 9-0, 9-3, 9-3 (28m)

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