Completed
Come witness all the drama unfold as the best women's Squash players in the world battle it out in a spectacular 4-wall Glass Court at Leisure Park Kallang!
Final (31 July 2010)
Semi Finals (30 July 2010)
Quarter Finals (29 July 2010)
Round 1 (28 July 2010)
Qualifying Round 2 (27 July 2010)
Qualifying Round 1 (26 July 2010)
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Local publicity:
David hoping to make it for straight wins (.pdf) - Straits Times
David gunning for fourth straight S'pore Masters (.jpg) - Today
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1 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Final:
Nicol stays perfect in Lion City
How do you play an opponent who's beaten you 14 times in a row? You try your hardest and make the most of your chances. But hard as she tried, Alison Waters walked away from the glass court at Leisure Park Kallang knowing she'd given her all but it was not good enough to stop World No. 1 Nicol David from winning her fourth straight CIMB Singapore Women Squash Masters title.
In truth, Waters had her chances and the first game was in many ways the decider. With both players at their freshest, the game settled into a battle of attrition with David conceding an early 5-2 lead, giving up five straight points with uncharacteristic loose shots.
With the English 9-5 up, the umpires were called for a let decision which ended with the point being replayed, and Nicol staved off disaster by pushing the Londoner to 9-9. Waters had her first game point at 10-9 which she failed to convert. And she went on to have five more, not succeeding in winning any, as David found her way to level off each one of them. At 17-16, David got her second chance, and closed the door.
After a 27-minute struggle, when Waters could have been a game up, she was instead one down.
"That's why Nicol is the World No.1," said Waters. "She just doesn't stop running and she plays those big points just a little better."
Make no mistakes, the results show a three-set win to David but it was no walk in park. 9-9 in the second game, and 10-10 in the third gave Waters plenty of positives as she looks forward to recording her first career win against the Malaysian -- the record now stands at no wins after 15 meetings.
"Each time I play her I feel like I am getting a little closer. But Nicol's so good and retrieving, she is so fast and gets to everything. You just have to play so many shots to get a winner," Waters said.
Commenting after the game, WISPA President Natalie Grainger complimented both players on a high quality match. "These girls are are the top of their games. But Nicol's just a bit better than the rest at the moment and Alison showed here today that she can get to game points. She needs now to go and think about how to go from 10 to 11, how to convert those chances when they come."
As for Nicol, it was hard work at the start, but she knew she was in control, helped by a partisan crowd in Singapore. "It's great to play in Asia with the crowd behind you. I was feeding off them throughout the match and they helped to put that extra spring into my step."
Bringing the tournament to the people has been a great hit -- the glass court is not a new idea but it is certainly one that needed to be repeated in Singapore, With S$300,000 invested in a lease-to-buy deal for the glass court, squash fans can be certain there would not be another 12-year absence before the court is seen in public again.
Some 400 spectators enjoyed the action this year, which also went out 'live' on television across Southeast Asia. And Grainger sees the potential for the event to grow.
"The reception this year has been tremendous and the SSRA can certainly grow this event. Perhaps the success this year could see a bidding war from the shopping malls in Singapore for the next edition. And I understand there is a huge complex with a casino in town which can certainly accommodate this event," Grainger said with a twinkle in the eye.
The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort hosted a glittering first class fencing event just the night before, and they could certainly do with a little bit of magic from the ladies. Success guaranteed!
- Official Press Release
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30 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Semi-finals:
Waters Upsets Grinham To Face David In Singapore Final
England's Alison Waters battled for 58 minutes to upset second-seeded Australian Rachael Grinham in today's (Friday) semi-finals of the CIMB Singapore Women's Masters to set up a clash with three-time champion Nicol David, the favourite, in the climax of the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event at Kallang Leisure Park in Singapore.
The streak stands at 15 - that's the number of matches Nicol David has won in a row in the Singapore Masters. And if the Malaysian world No1 makes it 16 tomorrow, she would claim the fourth title that her fans in Singapore would want her to do.
The 26-year-old from Penang took on sixth seed Madeline Perry in their first meeting since the 11 times Irish champion defeated her for the first time at last year's British Open.
And David showed yet again why she is the hardest player to beat on the WISPA Tour by beating Perry in four games - coming through 11-7 in the first game before dropping the second 11-3. A change of tactics saw the title-holder regain control and win the next two games comfortably, 11-4, 11-6.
Whereas her fans in Singapore almost expect her to cakewalk her way past ANYONE, the Malaysian knows better. And she treats every single opponent with the respect they deserve, and therefore does not let up even for a single minute.
"These girls are good, and they will capitalise on any chances, so I have to keep it tight and work the ball around the court consistently," said David, now in her 61st Tour final and aiming for her 20th consecutive match win of the year in the final. "Especially with this point-a-rally scoring system, you cannot take it easy at all."
Perry felt she could repeat her British Open win: "I thought I had the chance when I took that game. Even when Nicol slowed the game down, I was in front and volleying, and able to get the points. But in the next two games, she kept me to the back of the court and that made things a lot harder.
"I'm pleased with how I played here, I'm happy with my movement, and can head to the Australian Open feeling positive about my squash," concluded the world No7 from Belfast.
One streak was broken today when, for the first time since the tournament started in 2007, there will not be a Grinham in the final. With Natalie, the 2009 and 2007 finalist, now a proud mother of a two-month old baby boy, it was left to older sister Rachael to keep the streak going.
A semi-final appearance was the best Rachael could manage, going down in five games to England's Alison Waters. But the 33-year-old saw plenty of positives despite the loss.
"I felt better here compared to last week when I lost in the first round. It's always tough against Alison and whenever I could get her out of the 'T', I was in there," Grinham said. "I got a bit excited in the fifth game, when for my shots too soon, and after dropping a few quick points, things just spiralled out of control."
As for Waters, she's glad to be back to her best after two months on the sidelines with tendinitis in her Achilles.
"I'm moving well again and there were lots of retrieving in the game against Rachael. I had match balls in the fourth game, and was in control in the fifth. It's really good to get a tough match to prepare for the final," said the third seed.
The 26-year-old Londoner is enjoying the best year of her career, with two Tour title wins from three final appearances - and has only lost two matches, both to David.
But it will not be easy for Waters, who has not beaten David in 14 career meetings since December 2004. The pair met in the Singapore semis two years ago - and in the Malaysian Open semi-finals last week Kuala Lumpur, where David took it in four games after a tough battle at the start.
- Official Press Release
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29 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Quarter-finals:
Nicol in ominous form as top seeds reach the final four
Top seed Nicol David turned in a composed performance to despatch World No 9 Kasey Brown 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 to reach the final four of the CIMB Singapore Women's Masters 2010.
The Malaysian World no 1 stayed patient throughout the 40-minute encounter, working long rallies to her advantage and making her Australian opponent work just a little harder to keep up.
At times it was almost brutal as David kept her mistakes to the minimum and never allowed Brown to get comfortable in the four-side glass court at Leisure Mall
Brown was magnanimous in defeat: "Nicol is just super quick around the court.I had a game plan in mind but didn't execute it properly. She wasn't giving much away at all throughout the match even when I was trying to slow the game down."
"At times it felt like I had to win the rallies several times over just to win a point!" the player from Taree added.
The win sets up an intriguing semi-final for David against Northern Ireland's Madeline Perry who ended Annie Au's run in Singapore 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4.
Ten months ago, the Penangite suffered one of her four defeats in 2009 to Perry in the quarter-finals of the British Open.
But she is not about to let memories of the 76-minute match in Manchester play on her mind.
"I bounced back quickly from that defeat and went on to win the World Open right after that. Right now, I'm feeling fit and am staying focused for the next match," said David.
The other semi-final will be between second seed Rachael Grinham and England's Alison Waters who's seeded third.
Waters came through a thrid game wobble to beat France's Camille Serme in four, the first meeting between the two in 18 months. And Serme saw positives despite losing: "I have improved a lot in the last year, and I always want to meet the higher-ranked player to see how much I've closed the gap with them."
Commenting on the match with Waters, the Frenchwoman said: "I had a bad start in game four, and that put a stop to my comeback."
And just as the first three editions of the Singapore Masters final have been won by David, they have invariably featured one of the Grinham sisters. World no 3 Rachael made sure that could still happen, trumping WISPA President Natalie Grainger in 20 minutes.
"It was never going to be a long match with Natalie," said Grinham, "she always goes for her shots and even if we went to five games it would be quick."
Looking ahead to her encounter with Waters, the 33-year-old from Toowoomba said: "Alison creamed me in our last three or four matches, and she's in pretty good form. So I'm in for another tough match tomorrow."
"I'm still getting back to full match fitness having not played tournaments since April, and lasted one match in Malaysia last week," she added.
The Australian's quick wins over Singapore'a Pamela Chua in round one, and against Grainger, would hardly have given her the workout she needed.
"Maybe I'd practice with Nicol tomorrow morning seeing as Alison's likely to get her hits with Perry."
- Official Press Release
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28 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Round 1:
Au stuns Omneya in Singapore
Hong Kong qualifier Annie Au stunned Egypt's world No6 Omneya Abdel Kawy in the biggest upset of today's (Wednesday) first round of the CIMB Singapore Women's Masters, the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event at Kallang Leisure Park in Singapore.
The 21-year-old twice came back from a game down to push the match to a fifth game. In the decider, Au got herself to the brink of victory at 10-6 before nerves took over. Fourth seed Abdel Kawy took three straight points to narrow the score to 10-9 but that was as close as the Egyptian got as Au took the winning point to record her first victory over a top 10 player.
"It was Au's first competitive meeting with the enigmatic player from Cairo, and one which she did not wish for, given her dismayed reaction last night after being drawn to face Omneya," commented an event spokesman.
"But that's all forgotten now as the 2008 WISPA Young Player of the Year continues to consolidate her position as Hong Kong's leading player, with veteran Rebecca Chiu set to retire after November's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China."
Offering a rare smile, Au explained: "I was nervous in the first game and could not catch Omneya's shots. But I told myself not to give up and just concentrate and play a good game."
The left-hander's quarter-final assignment does not get easier - as she will face Madeline Perry, the sixth seed from Ireland who despatched Malaysia's Low Wee Wern in four games.
Hong Kong Squash Association Head Coach Tony Choi is pleased with Au's continued progress: "Annie's had a good lead-up before this tournament with wins last month in Kuwait and France, so she is physically and mentally in tune. There was really no pressure on her facing a top ten player like Omneya and I'm happy she managed to pull off the win."
No joy, though, for Chiu as she went down tamely to England's third seed Alison Waters in straight games, while second seed Rachael Grinham ended the home challenge by outclassing Singapore wildcard Pamela Chua.
For Chua, who is heading back to California soon to resume her Mathematical and Computational Studies at Stanford University, the 18-minute workout emphasised the difference between her, a varsity player, and Grinham, a full-time touring professional and a former world number one and world champion.
"Rachael is very skilful and has a wide array of shots," said Chua. "I found it hard to work out where the next shot was coming from!"
Grinham, though, was complimentary: "There were no easy points - Pamela was in the rallies and I couldn't let up for a minute," said the 2007 World Open champion. "She moves and hits well but she's got to play more of these matches to get used to the intensity."
WISPA President Natalie Grainger came through a dramatic 45-minute battle with Malaysia's Delia Arnold. The 33-year-old fifth seed fought back from two games down to win a match that got a little testy towards to end.
"I haven't played that much lately, so it was a matter of finding the right shots and getting the fluidity back, and even adjusting to seeing the ball early," said the US-based former world number one. "I'm really pleased to be able to come back into the game with a change of tactics, and simply hitting the ball a little deeper."
Grainger will meet Grinham next in a battle of the former world number ones.
The pick of the first round matches saw France's Camille Serme taken to five games by Australian Donna Urquhart. The stunning match turned into a real battle of wills between two supremely fit and highly athletic players.
World No10 Serme breezed through the first two games before handing back the advantage to a determined Urquhart, ranked eight places below her. The Frenchwoman's concentration seemed to flit in and out but she managed to stay focused long enough to win 11-8 in the fifth and set up a meeting with Waters.
Australia's Kasey Brown started proceedings at Leisure Park in Kallang with a four-game win over trans-Tasman rival Jaclyn Hawkes. And the name of her opponent was confirmed seven matches later in the day's final tie featuring world No1 Nicol David against Egypt's Raneem El Weleily.
Nicol is the draw at this annual tournament where she is adopted as a local by Singaporean fans. And the distinguished Malaysian she gave them a scare by dropping her first game 8-11 to El Weleily. The 26-year-old from Penang duly sharpened her focus - and her game - to motor through to the final eight.
- Official Press Release
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27 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Qualifying Round 2:
El Sherbini wins fans as Malaysia sends two more into the Main Draw
It was nearly 11pm when Annie Au saw her name drawn first out of the box by the tournament chairman Raymond Tan. And the Hong Kong player's reaction indicated she'd have preferred to face someone else other than 4th seed Omneya Abdel Kawy in the first round of the Main Draw.
Indeed, it was scant reward for the 21-year-old who defeated Denmark's Line Hansen to kickstart proceedings on Day 2 of the CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2010. Starting her match at 6.30pm, Au was always on top against her taller opponent, and despite dropping the second game, she edged a competitive encounter in 38 minutes.
Then came the three-and-a-half hour wait for Au as the next three matches all went the distance.
For a second night in a row, Egypt's Nour El Sherbini was involved in a five-game tussle, and though she won many fans in Singapore, her campaign was halted by Malaysia's Low Wee Wern. The 14-year-old former World Junior Champion drew gasps from the fans with her audacious shot-making but made crucial errors on the big points and paid the price
El Sherbini said: "All the games were so close, I felt I could win this one but took too much risk on the big points. Matches like these can only make me improve more as a player."
As for Low, she credited her victory to her ability to stay confident and steady, and earned a meeting with 6th-seed Madeline Perry.
"This is one of the hardest matches I've ever played," Low said her first encounter with El Sherbini. "I told myself to be patient when I was 2 sets to 1 down, and played the crucial points a lot better than Nour."
Delia Arnold made it two for two for Malaysia, edging a fractious encounter with Ireland's Aisling Blake. The Malaysian No 2 took the first two games but Blake fought back in the next two to force the decider.
In WISPA World Rankings, these two players are only three positions apart and the when the dust settled, it was the higher ranked Arnold that came through 14-12 in the fifth. Her first round opponent will be the WISPA President herself, Natalie Grainger.
In the battle of the Hong Kong players, it was the veteran that triumphed over the young star. The business-like match was high on efficiency and low on drama, with Rebecca Chiu besting Joey Chan 11-2 in the fifth game.
The World No 19 will have her hands full against tournament 3rd seed Alison Waters.
- Official Press Release
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26 July 2010 - Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore
Qualifying Round 1:
Hong Kong Treble as El Sherbini upset King
(Above) The stage is set: a 4-Wall glass court at Leisure Park shopping complex, Singapore
Action got underway in Singapore as the CIMB Singapore Women's Masters is played for the first time in a four-sided glass court. Set up in a shopping mall, the court drew in curious onlookers and squash fans alike as this is the first time since 1998 that a glass court is being utilised for a tournament in this city state.
But there was no joy cheer for fans rooting for the two Singapore players in the qualifying draw. Wildcards Mao Shihui and Jerryca Teo were no match for their more experienced rivals. Mao losing to in three games to Dane Line Hansen to open the proceedings, and Teo not able to keep up with Malaysia's Delia Arnold.
No shame though for the Singaporean part-timers who pick up invaluable experience from their opponents who are seasoned campaigners and fulltime professionals.
The upset of the day was served up by Egypt's former World Junior Champion Nour El Sherbini. The 14-year-old took New Zealand's Joelle King to the fifth game, then came from 8-10 behind to prevail 12-10. The 68 minute tussle was easily the match of the day.
Malaysians Low Wee Wern and Siti Munirah Jusoh experienced contrasting fortunes, with Low despatching South African Tenille Swartz in straight games, while Siti fell to Irish lass Aisling Blake, also in three games.
Joey Chan kicked off a Hong Kong trifecta to wrap up the action at Leisure Mall. Traded the first two games with reigning World Junior Champion Amanda Sobhy, Chan relied on her greater experience to edge the next two games for the win.
World No 19 Rebecca Chiu had little problem brushing aside Olga Ertlova of the Czech Republic, and it was left to Annie Au to complete the treble which she duly did by outclassing Sweden's Josefa Bertilsson.
There will not be three Hong Kong players in the Main Draw, however, as Chiu will line up against Chan tomorrow. Chiu is ranked 10 places above Chan and a battle between the veteran and the promising young star will be one to watch.
- Official Press Release
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CIMB SINGAPORE
WOMEN'S MASTERS 2010
LEISURE PARK KALLANG, SINGAPORE
CIMB SINGAPORE MASTERS 2010 |
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NICOL DAVID (MAS) (1) |
NICOL DAVID (MAS) 8/11 11/5 11/7 11/4 |
NICOL DAVID (MAS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 |
NICOL DAVID (MAS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 |
NICOL DAVID (MAS) 18-16, 11-9, 12-10 |
RANEEM EL WELEILY (EGY) |
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KASEY BROWN (AUS) (7) |
KASEY BROWN (AUS) 11/3 12/14 11/6 11/7 |
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JACYLN HAWKES (NZL) |
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OMNEYA ABDEL KAWY (EGY) (4) |
ANNIE AU (HKG) 7/11 11/7 4/11 |
MADELINE PERRY (IRL) 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 |
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[Q] ANNIE AU (HKG) |
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MADELINE PERRY (IRL) (6) |
MADELINE PERRY (IRL) 12/10 5/11 11/1 11/5 |
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[Q] LOW WEE WERN (MAS) |
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DONNA URQUHART (AUS) |
CAMILLE SERME (FRA) 11/7 11/3 6/11 10/12 11/8 |
ALISON WATERS (ENG) 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 |
ALISON WATERS (ENG) 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-4 |
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CAMILLE SERME (FRA) (8) |
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[Q] REBECCA CHIU (HKG) |
ALISON WATERS (ENG) 11/2 11/6 11/9 |
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ALISON WATERS (ENG) (3) |
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[Q] DELIA ARNOLD (MAS) |
NATALIE GRAINGER (USA) 8/11 7/11 11/2 |
RACHAEL GRINHAM (AUS) 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 |
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NATALIE GRAINGER (USA) # |
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PAMELA CHUA (SIN) * |
RACHAEL GRINHAM (AUS) 11/3 11/2 11/2 |
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RACHAEL GRINHAM (AUS) (2) |
Information Courtesy of WISPA
# pegged ranking * wildcard
FINAL:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) vs [3] Alison Waters (ENG) 18-16, 11-9, 12-10 (63m)
SEMI-FINALS:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 (50m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-4 (58m)
QUARTER-FINALS:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [7] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (40m)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt[Q] Annie Au (HKG) 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 (54m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [8] Camille Serme (FRA) 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6 (43m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Natalie Grainger (USA) 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 (20m)
ROUND 1
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (42m)
[7] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-3, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 (55m)
[Q] Annie Au (HKG) bt [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9 (46m)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 12-10, 5-11, 11-1, 11-5 (36m)
[8] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8 (48m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (26m)
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2 (45m)
[2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Pamela Chua (SIN) 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (18m)
QUALIFYING ROUNDS
Qualifying round 1:
Line Hansen (DEN) bt Mao Shihui (SIN) 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (26m)
Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Joelle King (NZL) 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10 (68m)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Tenille Swartz (RSA) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (34m)
Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (32m)
Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Jerryca Teo (SIN) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 (25m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9 (37m)
Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (24m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt Josefa Bertilsson (SWE) 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 (25m)
Qualifying final:
Annie Au (HKG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (38m)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 11-5, 9-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-8 (85m)
Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 13-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-13, 14-12 (52m)
Rebecca Chiu(HKG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 2-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-2 (40m)
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