Nicol banks on her determination and experience to beat Tze-Lok

KUALA LUMPUR: Nicol David (pic) got off to a flying start in the prestigious British Open squash championships in Hull, England.

The Penangite, who is gunning to end her illustrious career on a glorious fashion, just needed 32 minutes to beat Ho Tze-Lok of Hong Kong 11-7, 11-5, 13-11 in the opening round at the Hull University Hall yesterday.

The 35-year-old Nicol looked so relaxed on the glass court as she made the Hong Kong player run all over in the first set.

The world No. 18 Nicol continued her dominance over the world No. 48 with some good shots to win the second set 11-5 in just eight minutes.

But the fightback started in the third when Tze-Lok stepped on the gas to take a 9-6 lead and raced to 11-10 but a determined Nicol showed her experience to collect three points in a row to win 13-11.

Nicol, the five-time British Open winner, faces world No. 3 Nour El Tayeb of Egypt in the second round today.Nour, who received a first-round bye, last played Nicol in the quarter-finals of the Saudi PSA Masters in Riyadh last year where she won in straight sets.

The 36-year-old Jenny Duncalf of England, who is also featuring in her last tournament, staved off a strong challenge from Rowan Elaraby of Egypt before prevailing with a 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 win.

Duncalf faces another Egyptian and top seed Raneem El Welily in the second round. Last year’s losing finalist Raneem received a bye in the first round.MencTypeface:> Adrian Waller (Eng) bt George Parker (Eng) 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7; Borjan Golan (Spa) bt Alan Clyne (Sco) 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2; Mostafa Asal (Egy) bt Abdulla Mohd Al-Tamimi (Qat) 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4; Tom Richards (Eng) bt Nathan Lake (Eng) 4-11, 16-14, 11-8; 6-11, 11-9.

Women: Joey Chan (Hkg) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (Nzl) 11-6, 11-3, 11-9; Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt Rowan Elaraby (Egy) 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10; Emily Whitlock (Eng) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (Hkg) 11-9, 11-7, 11-8; Samantha Cornett (Can) bt Alexandra Fuller (Rsa) 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10; Jasmine Hutton (Eng) bt Hollie Naughton (Can)11-7, 11-4, 11-8; Yathreb Adel (Egy) bt Haley Mendez (US) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6; Olivia Fiechter (US) bt Zeina Mickawy (Egy) 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7; Nicol David (Mas) bt Ho Tze-Lok (Hkg) 11-7, 11-5, 13-11.FIRST ROUND RESULTS