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12 October 2017

Malaysian squash queen Nicol David may be losing her touch.


Tough fight: Hong Kong’s Annie Au (right) beats Nicol David 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7 in the second round of the US Open at the Drexel University in Philadelphia on Monday.
Tough fight: Hong Kong’s Annie Au (right) beats Nicol David 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7 in the second round of the US Open at the Drexel University in Philadelphia on Monday.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian squash queen Nicol David is losing her touch.
The eight-time world champion’s latest setback was a surprising loss to Hong Kong’s Annie Au in the second round of the US Open in Philadelphia.
The 34-year-old Nicol lost 5-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11 at the Drexel University on Monday. It was 28-year-old Annie’s first win over the Penangite in 25 meetings.
And it was also Nicol’s second straight loss to a fellow Asian rival in as many months. She was beaten by Joey Chan, also of Hong Kong, in the semi-finals of the World Games in July.
And it does not augur well for Malaysia at the Asian Games in Jakarta next year.
Annie, the 2013 Asian champion, will next face world No. 4 Laura Massaro for a place in the semi-finals.
“To beat Nicol is a massive result and it makes all the hard work over the summer worth it,” said Annie.
“At 2-0 up I was thinking about the win and I made mistakes which gave her confidence.
“Nicol can come back from any scoreline so I had to go back to my game plan and play patiently in the fifth.
“I’m really happy right now. I actually booked my flight to leave tomorrow but I have to change my flight now.
“I have a day off and I’m going to enjoy this win before preparing for the quarter-finals.”
World No. 1 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt spent only 10 minutes to reach the last eight. She was leading 11-2, 7-2, when England’s Victoria Lust retired with a back injury.
The two-time world champion next takes on compatriot Nour El Tayeb.
In the men’s event, England’s Daryl Selby upset Egyptian seventh seed Tarek Momen 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 to set up a last eight meeting with third seeded compatriot Nick Matthew.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Men: Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Tarek Momen (Egy) 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8; Nick Matthew (Eng) bt Gregoire Marche (Fra) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6; Mohamed El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (Egy) 11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6; Simon Rosner (Ger) bt Cesar Salazar (Mex) 11-8, 11-8, 11-13, 11-1.

Women: 
Laura Massaro (Eng) bt Emily Whitlock (Eng) 13-11, 11-6, 11-6; Nour El Tayeb (Egy) bt Salma Hany (Egy) 8-11, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6; Nour El Sherbini (Egy) bt Victoria Lust (Eng) 11-2, 7-2 (rtd); Annie Au (Hkg) bt Nicol David (Mas) 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2017/10/11/shock-loss-for-nicol-malaysian-goes-down-to-hks-annie-in-second-round/#dMwHixTH2SWl1Dob.99

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