(updated 18-may-09 6:41 )

[MAIN DRAW]

Nicol David Withstands Grainger flurry for Gold In Texas

Top-seeded Malaysian Nicol David overcame defending champion Natalie Grainger for the second time in seven days when she beat her US Tour rival in the final of the Women's Texas Open to lift the $57,000 WISPA World Tour Gold squash title for the first time.

For those who thought David vulnerable after Grainger's win a month ago over David in Malaysia, Nicol David showed that she could withstand the world #2's opening furry and patiently wait to impose her game and style over the course of a match.

The world number one had to fight back from a game down, then survive a tie-break in the second game, before prevailing 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 in 39 minutes over world number two Grainger in the climax of the eighth staging of the established Texas Tour event at Life Time Fitness in Plano, near Dallas, USA.

"It was a close one and it wasn't an easy task that's for sure," said the delighted 25-year-old from Penang at the post-final presentations. 

"She was well into playing every shot imaginable in the first game and in the second I started to get a little bit into my own game.  Then, trailing at a crucial 10-8, I managed to pull it through and got the match to one-all.

"Afterwards, I kept my game and Natalie started to make a few unforced errors to give me a better lead. The last game was very tight right throughout, but I knew I had to keep working hard to make this final go my way.  Finally, everything worked out for me at the end. 

"I'm glad to win my first Texas Open title," concluded David.

It was a confidence-boosting win for the Malaysian superstar who fell to Grainger in the final of the KL Open, on home soil, in March - thereby ending a remarkable 56-match, 17-month unbeaten WISPA Tour run.

The win marks the 36th Tour title of Nicol David's career - and not brings her appearances in successive WISPA finals to 15 since October 2007, but also raises her total number of Tour finals to 51, thus drawing level with Australian Tour rival Rachael Grinham.

RESULTS:         Women's Texas Open Squash Championship, Plano, Nr Dallas, USA

Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (39m)

 

 

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