Nicol David Begins Comeback Campaign Against Compatriot In Cayman

Competing in her first WISPA World Tour squash event since ending her 17-month unbeaten run in the final of the KL Open in March, world number one Nicol David is drawn to meet Malaysian compatriot Sharon Wee in today's first round of the Women's Cayman Islands Open, the inaugural $37,500 WISPA event at South Sound Squash Club in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

The world's top five players are competing in the highest quality field ever to appear in the Caribbean.

Wee, the world No25 from Malacca, defeated England's Emma Beddoes 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 in 29 minutes in the qualifying finals to set up her fifth Tour meeting since 2000 with her Malaysian team-mate.

"This was a very important match for me," Wee told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "Emma beat me 3/0 two months ago in Malaysia and I was determined to put that right. I'm very happy - I'm proud of myself in fact."

Delia Arnold made it 100% success for Malaysians in the qualifiers after the Kuala Lumpur-born 23-year-old beat Sweden's Anna-Carin Forstadius 11-3, 11-8, 11-3. Arnold gets the second highest-ranked opponent in second seed Natalie Grainger, the world No2 from the USA who ended Nicol David's 56-match unbeaten run in KL two months ago.

But the toughest qualifying battle saw USA's Latasha Khan edge out Caribbean star Nicolette Fernandes 9-11, 14-12, 11-1, 11-5 in 53 minutes.

Fernandes has been out of action for almost two years after a knee injury. After winning the first game, the 25-year-old from Guyana led 10-5 in the second and had two game-balls before Khan drew level.

"Nicolette's such a good player," said Khan, a seven-time US champion. "I used to hit with her a lot before she got injured, so I knew it was going to be tough, she just never gives anything up. She's the only woman who dives after the ball!

"Coming back to win it was more her than me, and the same in the third. She's been out for two years, but she'll be back to where she was in no time."

A downcast Fernandes, who attained a career-high world No27 ranking in May 2007, felt she should have won: "I thought I played really well in the first two - I should have had the second, and should have won, so I'm really gutted to lose.

"You're always scared when you come back that you won't be able to compete at the same level, so I'm happy to be back, happy to be competing. My fitness is back 100%, but not my match fitness yet. I need to win more, I can't let these games get away from me.

"I feel at home here, I had great support, I love playing in the Caribbean. I just should have won!"

Qualifying finals:
Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Anna-Carin Forstadius (SWE) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (29m)
Latasha Khan (USA) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 9-11, 14-12, 11-1, 11-5 (53m)
Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt Irina Assal (RUS) 11-1, 11-4, 11-4 (17m)
Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Emma Beddoes (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (29m)