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[3] Laura Massaro
(Eng] 3-2 [1] Nicol David (Mas)
4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (77m)
PRIDE SAVES LAURA
comes from 0-2, 0-5 to dethrone David ...
 The
English number one took a big risk by deciding to stop everything
for a few weeks, and just rest until she was hungry for the game
again.
But it was a good choice it appears. Downed easily in the first game
11/4, she came close to taking the second but lost it 11/9, and at
5/0 down in the third, it looked like Nicol was in the final.
 A
huuuuuuuuuge scream at that point, and the Lady decided that she was
not going to be ridiculed in front of a big crowd on her home turf.
She scored seven points in a row, clinching that game on her third
game ball, 11/9.
The fourth was just as huge a game, Nicol got a match ball at 10/9,
but a “lucky nick” from Massaro denied the Malaysian, 10/10.
 The
English star took the next two points rapidly, 12/10 in 14m, two
games all, a very noisy crowd replenishing Laura’s energy tank.
The fifth lasted 13m, Laura dominating the whole way, from 3/0, 4/2,
5/3, 6/4, then found a nice cushion at 8/5, 10/6, match ball, to
finally book her place in the final for the third year in a row,
11/8 in 78m.
Camille awaits….
 I’m
really pleased with that, I can’t tell enough how much the crowd
helped me today, it’s such an advantage to play in front of your
home crowd, and I hope they’ll be there tomorrow as well!
When I was 5/0, I thought oh no, it’s a nightmare, it’s the
Commonwealth Games all over again, losing in front of my home crowd,
and I just kept telling myself, DO NOT let her 11/0 you in that
game.
It was all about refusing to embarrass myself.
And then I just calmed down, and settled down. I think I came on
court trying having to prove something, but suddenly, I didn’t have
anymore pressure on myself, I just wanted to enjoy the time on
there.
I never thought I “had” Nicol. She is such a champion, she is so
fit, she never gives up. The only thing you can do is piling the
pressure up.
 And
even on match point, I was this is going to be a nightmare, I’m
going to have to have to hit an outrageous shot to win this, and
then she made that tin, it was such a gift, such a bonus. I am SO
EXCITED!!!!
You don’t beat Nicol if you don’t play your best squash. My ranking
dropped, so this was a big semi, we haven’t been playing in the
semis for what, three years?
So this is huge… It means the world to me, with Allam supporting
women squash and increasing the prize money, such a huge event at
home, I really want to do the women’s game proud.
I have a bit of recovery to do, but I have the physio waiting in the
wings, and I’m on home turf, I’m not "
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