'It gives me goose bumps': For squash ace Nicol David, Hong Kong is a home away from home
But Malaysian great is pushed to the limit in opening her title defence at the Hong Kong Open; Max Lee’s win puts two local male players into the second round of the event for the first time
Nicol David has spent the past few days soaking up the history she has so far written at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open – while setting out a plan of attack as she looks to add another chapter to it.
Ten straight victories here have helped add to the David legend, as the Malaysian has established herself among the greats of the game, and she admitted to feeling a special kind of buzz building inside as her flight made its approach into Chek Lap Kok.
“I won my first international event here as a 13-year-old and it has been special to me ever since,” said the eight-time world champion. “My first world title win here was in 2005 and just thinking about that still gives me goose bumps. I think Hong Kong is a very special place.
“There’s always a feeling I get when I come back here. It seems quite surreal, considering everything that has come before and all the memories I bring with me. When I think back on everything I have experienced here it really spurs me on to play my best squash.”
It’s a good thing it does as David was given an almighty scare as she opened her title defence on Wednesday night, the world number three finding herself pushed to the limit by Tesni Evans of Wales before prevailing 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5.