Nicol David On Song In 2009 Campaign Opener In KL

Malaysian squash star Nicol David began her 2009 campaign on home soil in fine style today when she beat Madeline Perry in straight games in the first round of the CIMB KL Open, the $53,000 WISPA World Tour Gold event in the Malaysian capital.

Undefeated since October 2007, the world number one from Penang is seeded to reach the women's KL Open final for the ninth time since 1999 - and win the title for the sixth time!

David despatched Perry, the 10-time Irish champion from Belfast, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 in just 26 minutes - and will now face England's Jenny Duncalf for a place in the semi-finals. Duncalf, the fifth seed from Harrogate, reduced Malaysian interest in the women's event by 50% when she beat Malacca-born Sharon Wee 11-8, 11-7, 11-6.

Second seed Natalie Grinham is another WISPA star starting out on her 2009 trail. The Australian-born Dutch 30-year-old defeated English qualifier Lauren Briggs 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 - and will meet another English opponent when she faces eighth seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro en-route for her expected place in the final for the third year in a row.

Two seeds failed to claim their anticipated places in the second round of the men's $50,000 PSA Tour event. Pakistani qualifier Yasir Butt secured the biggest scalp by beating Egypt's No7 seed Omar Mosaad 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9.

English qualifier Chris Simpson continued his recent run of form with an 11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4 defeat of eighth seed Mansoor Zaman, also from Pakistan.

Simpson will now face fellow countryman Adrian Grant - but the third seed from London was kept on court for 73 minutes before prevailing 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 over unseeded Egyptian Tarek Momen.

Local hero Ong Beng Hee was also taken the full distance before stemming the advances of the sport's bright new star Mohamed El Shorbagy. The 18-year-old twice recovered from behind to force the match into a decider - but defending champion Beng Bee battled on to win 11-3, 6-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 after 56 minutes.

Men's 1st round:
[1] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
[6] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 (56m)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Jan Koukal (CZE) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2 (25m)
[Q] Yasir Butt (PAK) bt [7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9 (45m)
[Q] Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [8] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4 (28m)
[3] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 (73m)
[5] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [Q] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8 (90m)
[2] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-3, 6-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (56m)

Women's 1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (26m)
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Sharon Wee (MAS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (30m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Annie Au (HKG) 14-12, 11-4, 12-10 (24m)
[6] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (45m)
[7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-1, 11-7, 1-11, 11-6 (40m)
[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [Q] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-7, 11-7, 4-11, 19-17 (33m)
[8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-7, 17-15, 11-3 (26m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 (29m)