World No 1 Nicol David for Canberra
05-Jul-2011 - Australian Open Team
Despite her many links to Australia, Nicol David has not played in the Australian Open until this year. She is coached by an Australian in Liz Irving in Amsterdam and often spends part of the January warm summer in Melbourne picking up a few pointers from Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Vicki Cardwell.
Her last competitive visit was for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 representing Malaysia. Unfortunately, she didn't show her world dominant form that year.
Since January 2006, Nicol has been the undisputed world number one player in the Women's game and there are no signs of her losing her dominance. Despite the ocassional loss to her world tour competitors, Nicol is likely to win every major title she enters. She has raised her professionalism and preparation for a major championship to a level above those around her and has become the standard by which others are measured.
She will begin her attempt to add the Australian Open to her list of championship victories with a first round clash with Kylie Lindsay of New Zealand on the Centre Court in Canberra on Tuesday 9 August. If matches go to plan and there are no upsets, Nicol is seeded to meet Australia's top ranked player and former World No 1 Rachael Grinham in the semi finals on Saturday afterrnoon. The seedings for the other side of the draw predicts a clash between England's top player and World No 2 Jenny Duncalf and the defending Australian Open Champion Madeline Perry - World No 4 from Ireland.
Tickets are still available to see the world's best women and men in all sessions of the Australian Open including the semi-finals and finals on Saturday and Sunday 13-14 August in Canberra's Royal Theatre. Just go to australiansquashopen.com or call Squash ACT on 02 6282 3824.
Women's Main Draw
1- Nicol David (Mas) v Kylie Lindsay (NZ)
14- Isabella Stoehr (Fra) v Emily Whitlock (Eng)
6- Annie Au (HK) v Qualifier
15- Line Hansen (Den) v Milou Van Der Heijden (NED)
3 - Rachael Grinham (Aus) v Lucie Fialova (CZE)
9 - Loo Wee Wern (Mas) v Qualifier
7 - Donna Urquhart (Aus) v Qualifier
13- Dipika Pallikal (Ind) v Qualifier
12 - Delia Arnold (Mas ) v Olga Ertlova (CZE)
8 - Joelle King (NZ) v Gaby Huber (Sui)
11 Joey Chan (Mas) v Christine Nunn (Aus)
4 - Madeline Perry (Ire) v Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas)
10- Natalie Grinham (Ned) v Melody Francis (Aus)
5 - Kasey Brown (Aus) v Qualifier
16 - Lisa Camilleri (Aus) v Sarah Cardwell (Aus)
2 - Jenny Duncalf (Eng) v Qualifier
Qualifiers will be identified once the qualifying draw is completed on Monday 8 August at the Woden Squash Centre.