RESULTS: CIMB Singapore Masters, Singapore
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 (50m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-4 (58m)
England's Alison Waters battled for 58 minutes to upset second-seeded Australian Rachael Grinham in today's (Friday) semi-finals of the CIMB Singapore Women's Masters to set up a clash with three-time champion Nicol David, the favourite, in the climax of the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event at Kallang Leisure Park in Singapore.
The streak stands at 15 - that's the number of matches Nicol David has won in a row in the Singapore Masters. And if the Malaysian world No1 makes it 16 tomorrow, she would claim the fourth title that her fans in Singapore would want her to do.
The 26-year-old from Penang took on sixth seed Madeline Perry in their first meeting since the 11 times Irish champion defeated her for the first time at last year's British Open.
And David showed yet again why she is the hardest player to beat on the WISPA Tour by beating Perry in four games - coming through 11-7 in the first game before dropping the second 11-3. A change of tactics saw the title-holder regain control and win the next two games comfortably, 11-4, 11-6.
Whereas her fans in Singapore almost expect her to cakewalk her way past ANYONE, the Malaysian knows better. And she treats every single opponent with the respect they deserve, and therefore does not let up even for a single minute.
"These girls are good, and they will capitalise on any chances, so I have to keep it tight and work the ball around the court consistently," said David, now in her 61st Tour final and aiming for her 20th consecutive match win of the year in the final. "Especially with this point-a-rally scoring system, you cannot take it easy at all."
Perry felt she could repeat her British Open win: "I thought I had the chance when I took that game. Even when Nicol slowed the game down, I was in front and volleying, and able to get the points. But in the next two games, she kept me to the back of the court and that made things a lot harder.
"I'm pleased with how I played here, I'm happy with my movement, and can head to the Australian Open feeling positive about my squash," concluded the world No7 from Belfast.
One streak was broken today when, for the first time since the tournament started in 2007, there will not be a Grinham in the final. With Natalie, the 2009 and 2007 finalist, now a proud mother of a two-month old baby boy, it was left to older sister Rachael to keep the streak going.
A semi-final appearance was the best Rachael could manage, going down in five games to England's Alison Waters. But the 33-year-old saw plenty of positives despite the loss.
"I felt better here compared to last week when I lost in the first round. It's always tough against Alison and whenever I could get her out of the 'T', I was in there," Grinham said. "I got a bit excited in the fifth game, when for my shots too soon, and after dropping a few quick points, things just spiralled out of control."
As for Waters, she's glad to be back to her best after two months on the sidelines with tendinitis in her Achilles.
"I'm moving well again and there were lots of retrieving in the game against Rachael. I had match balls in the fourth game, and was in control in the fifth. It's really good to get a tough match to prepare for the final," said the third seed.
The 26-year-old Londoner is enjoying the best year of her career, with two Tour title wins from three final appearances - and has only lost two matches, both to David.
But it will not be easy for Waters, who has not beaten David in 14 career meetings since December 2004. The pair met in the Singapore semis two years ago - and in the Malaysian Open semi-finals last week Kuala Lumpur, where David took it in four games after a tough battle at the start.