Road to Soho Square – Hong Kong
Tue, Aug 31, 2010
Defending World Open champion Nicol David gave herself the best possible boost in her last event before coming to Soho Square, when she collected an amazing sixth consecutive Hong Kong Open title, beating second seed Jenny Duncalf in straight games in the final.
Duncalf will feel aggrieved not to have at least taken a game, having held David to 9-all in the second, and squandering three games balls at 10-7 in the third.
There’s no doubt though that David will arrive in Sharm El Sheikh on a high, and on a 35-match unbeaten run as well.
“I knew that Jenny would come out fighting,” she said after the Hong Kong final, “all the other girls raise their game against me so I know I have to raise mine.
“I had to keep my focus, keep on playing my game whatever. Even at 10-7 down I know it wasn’t over, that if I kept going she might make an error or two, and that’s what happened.
“As the tournament went on my game got stronger and stronger. Being here on the glass court always inspires me, and since I won my first world title here in Hong Kong I always want to do well here.
“It’s so great to win here again, especially with the worlds coming up so soon …”
There was double delight for David, who celebrated her 27th birthday in Hong Kong during the tournament.
Duncalf will take heart from pushing David close, despite the scoreline, as will world number three Rachael Grinham, who lost 3-0 to David in the semi-finals, but the Australian was ahead in all three games, two of which finished 12/10 to David.
The other contenders will need to regroup - Alison Waters was disappointing in her semi-final against Duncalf but has pushed David close in recent events, Omneya Abdel Kawy could have upset Waters in the quarters and will hope home advantage will give her a boost, Madeline Perry came across Grinham in a purple patch but will want to recapture her Australia form, while Kasey Brown will take heart from pushing Duncalf so close in the second round in Hong Kong.
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All media in Malaysia did not recognized one of the sixth titles which was won by Nicol David in Hong Kong. All the local newspaper and their official internet website indicates that Nicol has won five Hong Kong Open titles and not six which appears on this article. .
That’s because in 2005 the Hong Kong Open was also the World Open. Some media reports looked at “Hong Kong Open” and thus missed the 2005 win. 2005,6,7,8,9,10 … six Hong Kong titles.