Malaysian superstar regains the World Open crown

Malaysian superstar Nicol David completed the double atonement she has been seeking for an entire year when she won back the World Open title and captured it for a third time.

The world number one endured a career crisis last year when she lost both the British and World Open titles and had set her heart on getting them back this year.

Having regained the British Open five months ago in Liverpool, she now repeated the achievement at the Tour’s most important tournament, beating the surprise finalist from England, Vicky Botwright 5-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-9.

It was not the best performance by Nicol and it was the first time she had dropped a game all week. However, it was one which showed her immense determination, some extra variety in her game, and increasingly versatile mental qualities in the difficult moments.

She was assaulted by an enterprising attack from the start by Botwright, who was playing in her last match before retirement and had the home crowd behind her, and looked for a while as though she were capable of a surprise.

But from the second game onwards, Nicol not only found greater accuracy with her basic line and length, but scored well in the front court, especially with volley drops.

She also found a way to win when Botwright came back dangerously in the fourth game to lead 8-7, when a decider - in which the home player’s support would have become immense - seemed dangerously possible.