Nicol puts World on hold

June 13
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Sport/2266107/Article/index_html
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THE World Open will have to wait as Nicol David sets her sights first on securing a fourth Malaysian Open title next month.

"Right now I'm still taking the British Open win in. I've got quite a few tournaments lined up until the Worlds, so I will focus on these tournaments first to be ready for the World Open.

"There will be plenty to do still up until then," Nicol, 25, said in an interview with squashsite.co.uk after winning the Seoul Open for her fourth Wispa Tour title this year on Saturday.

Besides the Malaysian Open on July 23-26 in Kuala Lumpur, Nicol is also expected to defend her Dutch Open title in September before attempting to win her third World Open on Nov 13-19 in Manchester, England.

However, whether she defends her Singapore Masters title in the week following the Malaysian Open is in doubt after the tournament saw its status reduced from Gold to Silver, which would have the effect of diluting her ranking points average were Nicol to play.

Nicol has also planned several exhibition matches before returning to her base in Amsterdam in preparation for the Malaysian Open.

"I will be going to Mexico to join up with (Mexican World No 20) Samantha Teran to do a couple of exhibition matches there.

"It'll be my first time there and I'm really excited.

"Then I'll build up with training in Amsterdam in the lead up to the Malaysian Open," said Nicol, who will also hopes to extend her 20-match unbeaten run on home soil spanning five tournaments.