Nicol battles past Vanessa

2009/11/08

Devinder Singh

NICOL David withstood a late challenge by Vanessa Atkinson to advance to the semi-finals of the Carol Weymuller Open in New York on Friday.

World No 1 Nicol's 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 quarter-final win over the former world champion from the Netherlands did not come easy as Nicol was forced to save a game ball in the third game.

"I just knew that Vanessa would come out strong and from our past encounters she knows my game. We've had close matches and this was one of them today (Friday). I'm just glad to win 3-0," said Nicol after her fourth straight victory over Vanessa.

Up next for Nicol is Jenny Duncalf, who won an all-English encounter with Tania Bailey 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.

Rachael Grinham, the second-seeded Australian, had a far easier time compared to her opening match when she saw off Mexico's Samantha Teran 11-2, 11-6, 11-9.

Third seed Alison Waters of England, however, was forced to the distance by compatriot Laura Massaro in an 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9 win.

Nicol overcame late resistance from Vanessa Atkinson to win in straight games.

Meanwhile, Malaysian interest at the Pittsburgh Open ended on Friday following the elimination of Ivan Yuen and Asyraf Azan.

World junior runner-up Ivan found no way past top seed Bernardo Samper of Colombia, who won 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4 while the third seeded Asyraf fell 12-10, 11-8, 12-14, 11-5 to sixth seed Arshad Iqbal Burki of Pakistan.