Nicol David & Mohammed Abbas Celebrate KL Titles

Malaysia's Nicol David delighted her home supporters in the country's capital Kuala Lumpur when she beat Australian rival Natalie Grinham in a marathon final today on the all-glass court at Berjaya Times Square to lift the women's title in the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open.

In the men's final, Egypt's Mohammed Abbas won the biggest title of his career when he beat Australia's Stewart Boswell in straight games.

World number one Nicol David was facing Natalie Grinham for the first time since the pair had contested the World Open final in Belfast in November - when David prevailed after five games and 95 minutes, then the longest match of the 23-year-old's career.

The KL contest followed a similar course, with the favourite dropping the first game before fighting back to regain supremacy over the No2 seed from Queensland. But this time, the pint-sized Malaysian had to fight for 102 minutes - a new record match-length for Nicol - before finally sealing her 6-9, 9-3, 9-6, 7-9, 9-6 win over Grinham.

The sensational victory marked David's fourth KL title success, and the 17th WISPA World Tour trophy of her career.

After both finalists survived marathon battles in the semi-finals, the men's climax turned out to be a straightforward affair. Fourth seed Abbas, 26, from Cairo, is enjoying his best ever run on the PSA Tour - and this year celebrated a career-high world No14 ranking.

Third seed Boswell, ranked three places higher, is a former world No4 who is still battling back to his former best after suffering a long PSA Tour layoff after a back injury.

But the day belonged to Abbas as the rejuvenated Egyptian strode to an 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 victory in 34 minutes over the over 28-year-old from Canberra.

The triumph marks the third PSA Tour title of Abbas' career - and his first since winning the COAS International crown in Pakistan exactly a year ago.

Men's final:
[4] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt [3] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (34m)

Women's final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 6-9, 9-3, 9-6, 7-9, 9-6 (102m)