Malaysian squash superstar Nicol David won a record sixth women's World Open title here on Sunday with a straight games victory over England's Jenny Duncalf. David prevailed 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 in slightly less than half an hour in which the Amsterdam-based Malaysian's speed was outstanding and which was arguably her best performance in a world final.
The 28-year-old David's speed was exceptional as usual, but she added to it immaculate driving, incisive front court play, and an almost error-free performance which was irresistible. David had been helped surpass Sarah Fitz-gerald's record five world titles by the Australian herself, who sometimes trains and practises with her.
Duncalf, who had been in excellent form, was unable to do anything to halt the record-breaker, even though she kept calm, made relatively few unforced errors herself, and tried to mix up the rallies.
The frustration of coping with David's onslaught was shown when Duncalf once kicked the ball away, after she had launched a brilliant winning volley return of serve to score her first point in the second game.
"I am speechless," a tearful David said, when she was interviewed on court about a minute after her history-making triumph, seemingly overwhelmed by the enormity of her achievement. When she rediscovered her words, David added, self-deprecatingly:
"I am just glad that I can do something to pay back the nation for what it has done for me."
By contrast her coach, Liz Irving, the Amsterdam-based Australian, was emphatic about what David had achieved. "It was without doubt the best performance I have seen from her," said Irving.
"That was as near to perfect as you will get." David was five points ahead before Duncalf could score at all, won 11 of the first 13 rallies with frightening speed, and hurtled through the third game without losing a rally. In between Duncalf did enough to show what a streak of lightning David can be, and how much more complete a player she has become since her first world title in Hong Kong in 2005.