David plans to emulate veteran McKay
Nicol David, the most successful squash player of the professional
era, plans to continue competing till the end of the decade irrespective
of whether squash is accepted into the Olympics.
David's carefully crafted 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 win over England's Laura
Massaro, which on Friday, extended her record of World Open titles to
seven, revealed how she is evolving as a player with extremely long term
ambitions.
The 29-year-old's movement was as light and flexible as ever, and was
allied to reassuring steadiness of temperament as Massaro threatened to
get a grip of the second game.
Afterwards David was clear in her mind about the direction in which
she is going.
"I have to keep my body in shape. I might go on another seven years
anyway but the Olympics would add meaning to it," she said.
"I am working to keep going another five to seven years anyway, but
the Olympics would be great."
If she succeeds, which looks quite possible, David would be almost 37
-- close to the age at which Heather McKay, the legendary Australian,
retired after winning the first two of the fledgling World Open
championships in 1979.
David is acutely aware that the physiology and sports science of an
ageing body requires specific knowledge and sensitive planning and she
may talk about this to the record-breaking 16 times British Open
champion.
"I spoke with Heather McKay twice, at the Australian Open, and I was
humbled to meet her," said David.
"I hope I have a chance to speak with her again next time I am in
Australia. And with other Australian players.
"I also hope to talk more with players in England, like Fiona Geaves
and Suzanne Horner, who have been playing past the age of 35. I am
hoping to keep going like that too."
Though David has hinted at all this before, the firmness of her
utterances now reflect how she is becoming her own person, clearer about
the importance of squash to her long-term destiny.
This growing independence is also suggested by the fact that this
will be the first Christmas spent at her adopted home in Amsterdam
rather than at her origins at Penang, in Malaysia.
"I am growing older. It's partly about having time with my friends. I
am growing as a person," David said.
"Of course Penang is my home. But in the last nine-and-a-half years I
have been living in Amsterdam and now have a group of people I am close
to and have a good time with.
I have had my own apartment (in Amsterdam) for a year." This change
reflects other changes - in her self-image, self-knowledge, and capacity
for stability under the constant pressure of expectations.
These have developed markedly in the last two or three years,
something for which she gives much credit to Frank Cabooter, a sports
psychologist at the University of Amsterdam.
"It's been a learning experience, and I am still working on it. There
are so many things you can't describe (that go through your mind). There
are many questions you have to answer for yourself, rather than being
told what to do you have to deal with it yourself," David said.
This is reflected in her off-court promotional presentations, as well
as training choices, and tactical decisions on court.
Her state of mind in Grand Cayman was more upbeat than for a while,
and her patient tactical choices, especially as Massaro threatened to
get back into the final, were vital to her seventh world title in eight
years.
Vital too are squash's Olympic hopes, to be decided by the IOC in
Buenos Aires in September next year.
David will remain active in the sport's public voice and its private
lobbying until then. "We are wait to hear what comes up from our last
presentation," she said. "I have to contact the World Squash Federation
to see what they want me to do. I will do as much as I can. I want to
make sure we keep the momentum going.
"If squash gets into the Olympics it will be wonderful. It will also
make me more eager, and give more meaning to my wish to play for many
more years." |