Defending champions, top seeds and world number ones Nick Matthew and Nicol David both successfully defended their World Open titles in contrasting finals at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands' City of Sports.

Nicol Supreme for Six
Malaysian superstar Nicol David collected a record SIXTH World Open title here at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam with a supreme performance to dismiss second seed Jenny Duncalf in straight games in just under half an hour.

The English world number two didn't do anything wrong, made very few unforced errors, but it was hard to see where her points were going to come from, such was the control that the Malaysian, moving and hitting supremely well, was exerting on the match and on her opponent.

Nicol led 5/0 in the first after some long opening rallies, taking it 11/2, she led 6/2 in the second, finishing it off 11/5, and was totally dominant in the third as Duncalf's spirit visibly wilted.

Six titles in seven years for Nicol.  Supreme.

"She was ridiculously good today," admitted Duncalf. "I wanted to stay on there as long as possible, but she had other ideas…"

Nicol was impressed too: "This is my best performance ever. I didn’t expect anything but I wanted it so badly, I didn’t want anybody to put their hands on that trophy but me. I had a great support in the crowd, they were magnificent, I had my parents, Liz, and a big team of supporters from Squash City in Amsterdam that came to support me.

"My World Open titles mean the world to me, but I would gladly trade the six of them for just one Olympic Medal…"

Matthew still the Champion
It took a little over three times as long as the women's final, but Nick Matthew retained his World Open title with a scintillating performance in front of a packed crowd at the Luxor Theatre. 

Gregory Gaultier, playing in his third final, pulled away to take a tough first game, but Matthew took an equally tough second, then pulled clear at the end of the third after the Frenchman took a small injury break after a mid-court collision.

The defending champion made a strong start to the fourth, and at 6/1 it looked as is the end might come quickly, but Gaultier, invoking the crowd to help, started on a comeback that was cut short at 6/4 by a couple of errors.

Once Matthew had re-established the lead he closed the match out and raised his arms in triumph ... still the World Champion.

"Even though I lost the first I knew that I was not playing badly," said Matthew, "not doing anything wrong in particular, but that he was just playing better than me.

"I stuck in, stuck in, stuck in, and just started to attack a little bit. I got a finger in the door, and then my body through, and saw a chink of light and went for it.

"When I won today, it was pure joy, and pure relief. I feel for him, he’s been in three finals now, but hopefully he’ll will after I’m gone!!!!

RESULTS:
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (Eng)            11/2, 11/5, 11/0 (28m)

[1] Nick Matthew (Eng) bt [6] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)       6/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/5 (92m)

 

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