NICOL David’s fine run at the Hong Kong Open continued after the World No 1 disappointed the crowd by beating home favourite Joey Chan to reach the semi-finals yesterday.
Eight-time Hong Kong Open winner Nicol won her quarter-final 11-8, 11-4, 11-3 to notch a fourth win over Joey, the last surviving Hong Kong player, in as many meetings.
Nicol, who won her maiden world title in Hong Kong in 2005, has not lost in the former British colony since 2002 and has now gone 48 WSA Tour matches unbeaten there.
“I was finding my timing in the first and really put it together in the second and third,” said Nicol, who is looking to make up for last week’s Malaysian Open semi-final defeat.
Joey conceded Nicol was too fast for her, saying: “I played well in the first but the pace was very fast and it took its toll.”
Seven-time world champion Nicol’s bid for a ninth Hong Kong Open title continues today when she meets former world junior champion Amanda Sobhy.
The American, who reached the Malaysian Open semi-finals last week, upset third seed Camille Serme of France 11-5, 1-11, 11-7, 11-3.
Nicol has only met Amanda once before, winning in three games at the 2011 Cleveland Classic quarter-finals.
But the threat posed by Amanda, who is playing the Asian swing tournaments while on college summer vacation, cannot be taken lightly after the World No 15’s stunning victory over Camille.
Amanda also has a good track record in Hong Kong after winning the Buler Challenge Cup last year and the Hong Kong Football Club International tournament in May.
“So happy! A good day, I’ll go back to school happy, whatever,” said an elated Amanda. By Devinder Singh