Nicol David Back On Track In Grand Cayman

Malaysia's world number one Nicol David celebrated her 50th appearance in a WISPA World Tour final in appropriate style in the climax of the inaugural Women's Cayman Islands Open - playing her best squash for over a year to beat world number two Natalie Grainger in straight games and avenge her recent defeat by the US star.

"I'm very happy with that - I played my best squash of this year, and last year too probably," an exuberant Nicol David told www.squashsite.co.uk after the stunning 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 victory in 33 minutes which landed the 25-year-old from Penang the 35th Tour title of her career - but her first this year.

"She played well - but with the whole atmosphere of it, with what happened last time we played, I brought it all on to court and it helped me focus," explained David, referring to the crushing five-game defeat she suffered at the hands of Grainger in the final of the KL Open in March, which brought to an end the Malaysian's 56-match unbeaten run over the previous 17 months.

"Knowing what happened last time you have a good idea of what you need to do, so that it doesn't happen again. She played well last time but I really wanted to play well today," David added.

"This tournament has been so great, the setting, the club, and the atmosphere. Dan (Kneipp) has done a fantastic job - I can't wait to come back!"

With four successive Tour titles to her credit already this year, Natalie Grainger had built up a 19-match unbeaten Tour run on the eve of the final of the $37,500 event at South Sound Squash Club in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

"I made a good start, but not with enough control," admitted the 31-year-old from Greenwich later. "I was a bit tense in a way, I wasn't finishing my shots properly I wasn't hitting a good length.

"In these conditions, Nicol's always going to be tough to beat. You have to be at the top of your game.

"But it's been a good tournament overall for me - a fantastic setting and organisation, so I can't be too unhappy overall. I'm just a bit disappointed about the three-nil."

Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (33m)