By Chiew Zhi Wey
KAMPAR, Feb 5, 2011: Five-time world champion Nicol David suffered a rare defeat –after going down 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11 to Laura Massaro in the final of US$55,000 Cleveland Racquet Classic in Ohio on Wednesday.
This was the world number one ranked Malaysian’s first defeat by the world No. 9-ranked Englishwoman in nine meetings.
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Nicol David played harder during the final of Cleveland Racquet Classic in Ohio. |
It also marked Nicol’s first defeat after 42 matches in row. Her last defeat was at the hands of Jenny Duncalf in the the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic on Nov 22, 2009.
The 27-year-old Nicol, who won all nine Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) tournaments last year, said she went for every single shot.
“I didn’t play my best. Actually, I was a little bit impatient,” she said.
“I also made some errors early in the game. I am quite puzzled with my game,” she added.
Nicol also mentioned that she will definitely come back to win the title next year.
Student of UUM Chole Chin spoke out her view that ranking of sport is not depend of one’s strength, but depends on how many competitions ones had taken.
“We cannot assume that Nicol David who ranking number 1 was beaten by Laura Massaro is a big deal only because Laura ranking number 9, she might have the potential, but she did not take part as many competitions as Nicol do,” Chin explained.
