Nicol David claimed her seventh World Open title with a straight-games win  over first-time finalist in front of a packed, noisy and enthralled crowd at Camana Bay on Dec. 21st 2012.

The Malaysian went into the match as hot favourite, having long since avenged two rare defeats at the hands of the Englishwoman ranked three in the world, but the match, although over in three games, was one of David’s toughest recent encounters.

The defending champion started solidly enough, opening up a 4-1 lead in the first game, extending it to 7-3 with the patient, accurate squash that is so effective.  Massaro found her way into the game, started matched David in the rallies and got back to as close as 8-6, but David finished off the next three rallies with lengths that were just too good to take the lead 11/6.

The second was tough, close, and probably crucial. David again made the better start, but Massaro was well into the match now, and soon pegged back that 3-1 deficit, levelling at 4-all. The game, the match, was all about long, patient rallies, working your opponent around and taking opportunities to increase the pressure rather than going for outright winners, until the pressure paid off.

That’s Nicol’s game of course, and to some extent she forces opponents to play her at her own game. Massaro was doing that, and for a good portion of the game she was beating Nicol at it. The Malaysian was the one working harder, doing more scrambling, and she edged ahead 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6.

Another part of Nicol’s game is that she finishes games off well, and she did it again, taking four points in a row, reaching game ball with a lovely dropshot on the full stretch, and doubling her lead 11/8 at the end of another long rally.

That was crucial, and David zoomed into a quick 5-0 lead in the third. Massaro, as in the first, settled but couldn’t get all the way back, 6-4, 7-5 and 8-6 were as close as she could get.

Nicol moved to 9-6 on a stroke, 10-6 as Laura’s volley clipped the tin, and she gleefuly put away the loose ball she’d worked hard to earn at the end of the next rally to claim an amazing seventh World Open title.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.worldopensquash.com/today.htm