Nicol prevails in error-strewn match

2009/11/21

NICOL David overcame an error- strewn performance and a battling opponent to book her place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Classic in Doha yesterday. New Zealand’s Jaclyn Hawkes saved three match balls in the third game to threaten a comeback when she drew level at 10-10 but Nicol stepped up a gear to ensure she completed the 11-9, 11-6, 12-10 second round win in 28 minutes.

Nicol earned a reprieve in the first game after World No 18 Jaclyn clawed her back from 4-8 down to 9-9 but the Kiwi put the next rally into the tin before conceding the stroke to hand the world champion the lead.

The second game was Nicol at her usual best but the third game was littered with errors by both players with the game on edge at 8-7 before Nicol surged ahead to 10-7 and notch her fourth win in as many meetings against Jaclyn.

Laura Massaro will pose a stiffer challenge to top seed Nicol in the last eight after the seventh seed from England edged a close-fought battle with compatriot Tania Bailey 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10.

Meanwhile, a bruised and bloodied Ong Beng Hee battled valiantly before crashing out of the men’s first round 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 against Pa k i s t a n ’s Aamir Atlas Khan on Thur sday.

Beng Hee suffered a cut above the right eye at the start of the second game and needed a 10-minute break to have the injury attended to.

On resumption Beng Hee was embroiled in an argument with the referee over a disputed tin call but rallied to take the third game.

A stronger and faster Aamir did not allow Beng Hee to keep his momentum however to book a second round meeting with French second seed Gregory Gaultier.

In a women’s first round match, national No 2 Delia Arnold let slip a 6-2 lead in the second game as France’s Camille Serme stormed back from a game down to take the tie 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7.

NICOL DAVID