50 Up For Nicol David - And Still Going Strong!

Malaysian squash star Nicol David recorded her 50th straight international match win in the quarter-finals of the Women's Seoul Open - and did so in some style by beating England's world No9 Alison Waters in straight games in the inaugural WISPA Gold event in the South Korean capital.

Unbeaten since March 2006, David won her second Asian Games gold medal in December and has also picked up nine WISPA World Tour titles along the way - including her second successive World Open trophy last November in Belfast.

Both players thrilled the packed crowd surrounding the all-glass court set spectacularly in Seoul Plaza in the centre of the city - but, after 40 minutes, it was the favourite who emerged victorious in a 9-4, 9-5, 9-4 scoreline.

Afterwards, the 23-year-old from Penang was presented a cake with 50 candles by Seoul Squash Federation CEO Kim Hak-Shin and WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley in recognition of her milestone win.

David's next opponent will be Jenny Duncalf, the unseeded 24-year-old from England who reached her first WISPA semi-final since July last year after defeating New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen.

Both players had made it to the last eight after upsetting seeded opponents - but it was the former world No6 from Yorkshire who continued her recent return to form by sinking Kitchen, coming back from 1-5 down in the final game to win 9-2, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5 in 48 minutes.

"It is good to be in another Gold semi," said a delighted Duncalf. "I like the glass court as it rewards a good length and for taking it in short. I also like playing outside too."

Australia's second seed Natalie Grinham sailed into the last four in just 21 minutes, crushing Ireland's No6 seed Madeline Perry 9-0, 9-1, 9-1. The 29-year-old world No2 from Queensland is expected to meet Nicol David in a final which would be the pair's fifth in a row.

In the semis, Grinham will face Tania Bailey, the fourth seed who - by contrast - was taken the full distance by new England team-mate Laura-Jane Lengthorn, the No7 seed, before winning 9-7, 3-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-1 in 79 minutes.

"I had a slight abductor strain before leaving for Kuwait," said Bailey, explaining the strapping on her right thigh. "I felt it slightly again before playing Nicol in Qatar and not since until this morning. It is just a little niggle.

"But the games I lost were because Laura's length was good, taking it early and hitting the targets."

Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [8] Alison Waters (ENG) 9-4, 9-5, 9-4 (40m)
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-2, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5 (48m)
[4] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [7] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) 9-7, 3-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-1 (79m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-0, 9-1, 9-1 (21m)