Massaro downs British Open champion David

Laura Massaro came from match point down to beat defending champion Nicol David in the semi-finals of the British Open in Hull on Saturday.

Massaro, only recently returned from a break in which she pondered her entire professional future, produced the most startling comeback of her career to beat David.

The former world and British Open champion from England came from two games and 0-5 down in the third, and then from match point down in the fourth, to overcome the legendary Malaysian 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8.

After having one very large slice of luck at match point against, Massaro was a revelation through the rest of the contest.

It was the longest match of the tournament so far, 77 physically demanding minutes, and near the end David gave away two vital penalty points after uncharacteristically mistiming the ball back close to herself.

"I think I just relaxed,? said Massaro, when asked how she made her escape. ?I have been two-nil down to Nicol before so I knew that I could do it. And she changed slightly, though at the moment I?m not quite sure how. I will have to have a look.

"Perhaps she stopped moving me forward and back, and I was able to be more positive, getting the first drop or boast in," Massaro added.

"I also felt very fresh. Having those five weeks break definitely helped me.?

- Composure -

Massaro, who became world champion in David?s home town in Penang last year, has now won four of their last eight encounters.

But she was fortunate when trailing 9-10 in the fourth game when her loose retrieve bounced halfway up the court, and improbably into the nick between the sidewall and floor, from thence to roll dead.

With a normal bounce David might have fancied her chances at being able to kill the ball and finish the match. "That's all part of the game,? David typically said, resisting the temptation to claim misfortune for her defeat.

"Laura just found her composure and didn?t make any mistakes. For the next few points she kept the rallies really tight and took her opportunities well," David added.

"There is no fear when players play me. They just come out, and if the outcome is not good they can feel they still played as well as they were able.

"I always have to be ready to step up my game. Maybe I stepped back a little (after leading in the third game) and didn?t get to enforcing my game as well as I might. But it was a great match and I really enjoyed playing it," a sporting David said.

Massaro will now face Camille Serme, the sixth seed, who is the first French woman ever to reach the final of the British Open.

The 26-year-old from Creteuil defeated qualifier Delia Arnold, the surprise package of the tournament, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 to end the extraordinary dream of having two Malaysians contesting the final.

It was already the first time that two Malaysians had been in a British Open semi-final.

However after six matches ?- more than any other player ?- Arnold appeared a little weary, and Serme dealt efficiently with the chances she had, often getting in front of her opponent and putting the ball away.

"I?m really proud to be the first French player to do this," she said, "I felt I played the right game and winning 3-0 should help my energy levels.

"We don?t speak a lot about squash in France but I hope this might change. Every time I go on court I want to do well so the media can talk about it,? added Serme, who has studied journalism.

?But I am trying not to think about it too much. There is still one match to go, and I just want to enjoy that and do well, and think about what I have done afterwards.?
Source: AFP