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WO p14 WOMEN_3 Column Left 14/01/2013 13:11 Page 1 WSA CAYMAN ISLANDS WORLD OPEN David in Seventh Heaven Richard Eaton looks back on a memorable 2012 women’s World Open in the Cayman Islands icol David's seventh world title Most notably, though, she was quite revealed more about her than relaxed. That partly may be because, as Nany of the others. There was a she moves into her 30th year, David is new emotional resourcefulness in more aware of who she is. coping with a build-up in which a group This has made her better at placing of younger players were said to be her shortcomings, as well as closing the gap on the Malaysian. considerable strengths, into perspective. David also dealt summarily with two Some of that emotional development is mini-crises – the loss of the third game down to her work with Dutch psychologist to Ireland’s Madeline Perry in the Frank Cabooter, as well as Australian quarter-finals and a 5-7 second-game coach Liz Irving. deficit in an 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 victory This became increasingly evident over England’s Laura Massaro in the during her successes against Egypt’s final. Omneya Abdel Kawy, Hong Kong’s Annie On both occasions she responded Au and England’s Jenny Duncalf, as well quickly, appropriately and well. She as against Perry and Massaro. ramped up the early ball pressure and It was also hinted a few days later mixed the short and the long games when, for the first time, she chose to against Perry, but kept it tight and spend Christmas away from home, at tenacious to break down the her domicile in Amsterdam. businesslike Massaro. "Of course Penang is my home," David has more options than she did. David said. "But I have been living in She volleys better, attempts to pierce Amsterdam for nine and a half years, defences with strikes of different speeds and it's partly about having time with my and knows better when to take the ball friends. I am growing older, but I am also in short or when to wait and rely on the growing as a person." speed which makes her a counter- And that has been reflected on the attacking maestro. squash court. Nicol David celebrates her seventh world title How the challengers fell Laura Massaro did enough to suggest, fascinatingly relaxed, but occasionally a David's other rivals disappointed. by upsetting the seedings to reach her first little too languorous, especially at Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini, touted as her World Open final, that she had become important moments. Massaro, by long-term successor, surrendered in the most improved player of 2012. contrast, was disciplined and focused. straight games to Ireland's Madeline Her final against Nicol David might Then suddenly, at match-point down at Perry, while fifth-seeded New Zealander have been significantly closer than 11-6, 10-11 in the final game, Massaro was Joelle King lost in five to Natalie 11-8, 11-6 had she exerted a little more thrillingly bold, risking a low volley and Grinham, the four-time World Open control when leading 7-5 in the second guiding it to a winning length. When she finalist from Australia. game. Massaro did, however, achieve that pushed through to win 5-11, 11-9, 12-14, Natalie admitted she had not quite the day before during a lengthy win 11-4, 13-11, it denied the second-seeded given up dreams of winning the title, but against Raneem El Weleily. Weleily a chance of repeating her CIMB elder sister Rachael seemed hazy about The young Egyptian's strokes were Malaysian Open final victory over David. the experience of having done that. It also confirmed Massaro as the Two games and 10-6 up against leading Englishwoman, for Alison Waters Nicolette Fernandes, the 2007 world also missed a chance of repeating a champion lost 3-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-5, recent win over David. Instead, she lost to 11-9 to the qualifier from Guyana. She is another compatriot, Jenny Duncalf, who also the Caribbean champion, so, not ignored recent fitness problems to make surprisingly, her triumph was greeted by one of her finest comebacks. the loudest ovation of the tournament. Two games down after failing with Rachael Grinham's biography says three game-balls, Duncalf somehow took her ambition is to work out what to do strength from the setback and won 7-11, after squash. It was impossible not to feel 17-19, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9. "I felt sympathy that, even for such a pleasing physically okay and, in a weird way, player, the answer has become more positive," she said. pressing. Guyanan qualifier Nicolette Fernandes, a shock first-round winner over Rachael THE SQUASH PLAYER 14 Grinham, dives to reach the ball .