Nicol David’s hope of retaining the US Open title for the fourth consecutive time is over after she suffered a defeat against rival Laura Massaro in Philadelphia.
The defeat is her fifth loss of the year, in what was a gruelling and tensed encounter between the top two seeds, with the match lasting for an hour and 11 minutes.
Nicol started off well after she managed to win the first two sets 11-8 and 11-4. However, Laura regained her composure as she clinched the third set 11-6.
Nicol started to lose momentum in the fourth set as she allowed Laura to level the score with an 11-8 win.
Both players that fought valiantly in the deciding set though Laura eventually held on to triumph 12-10 and booked her spot in the semis of the competition.
Laura will meet Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy, who beat India’s Dipika Pallikal 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 2-11 and 11-3.
In other quarter-final action on Wednesday, Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb beat compatriot, Raneem El Weleily 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 and 11-9 in an hour and nine minutes to progress to the semi-final.
Nour El Tayeb will meet Camille Serme from France, who beat another Egyptian Nour El Sherbini 11-8, 11-6 and 11-8 in 38 minutes.
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