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Cassie Jackman wins Title
By Howard Harding © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
August 24, 2003 

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Nicol David Falls Short after Strong Malaysian Open Run

Malaysian qualifier Nicol David's fairy-tale run in the Mulpha-Head Women's Malaysian Open Squash Championship came to an end in the final in Kuala Lumpur when she was beaten in four games by England's No2 seed Cassie Jackman.

It was fourth time lucky for the 30-year-old world No9 from Norfolk, who was runner-up in the event in 1991, 1994 and 1996. Jackman, world champion in 1999, is fighting back to the top of her game after back surgery less than a year ago.

Nicol, the former world No16 now languishing at 39 after a long layoff last year, started the first game brilliantly, quickly building up a 4-0 lead. Cassie's experience was put to good use, however, and she just dropped one more point to grab the first game. In the second, Nicol played a simple game to keep the ball going to wait and force Cassie into making errors. The game was over in very quick time, with Nicol dropping just a single point to level the match.

After Jackman took the third, the fourth game was a point-to-point affair with neither player breaking away with a large gap. Nicol saved one match-ball at 7-8 and then slipped in front of the court to hand back the advantage to her opponent. The 'pint-sized' Malaysian, twice a former world junior champion, then hit the next shot into the tin to give Jackman the title after 47 minutes in a 9-5 1-9 9-4 9-7 scoreline.

"Nicol played well but she is still young. Experience definitely gave me the advantage and I'm glad to win this title after losing on several occasions," Cassie told the New Straits Times. "I was a little sluggish in the second game and struggled to get back to the T but I played much better in the third and fourth.

"My performance has been up-and-down over the last three years and it's a mystery. But I still believe that I can return to the top and try to win my second World Open title," added the former world No1.

The victory marked Jackman's fourth WISPA World Tour title this year, and the 24th of her career in her 46th final.

After upsetting the 8th, the 3rd and then the 5th seed in the event, it was a disappointing outcome for Nicol three days before her 20th birthday. The Penangite, however, can surely look forward to an appropriate improvement in her ranking in the September WISPA list.

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

Final:
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [Q] Nicol David (MAS) 9-5, 1-9, 9-4, 9-7 (47m)

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