HULL, United Kingdom — World No. 1 Nicol David had to deal with a weather-damaged program, a difficult start, and a dangerously hard-hitting opponent Friday before reaching the semifinals of the British Open in defense of her title. David also had to save a game ball in the first game of a 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 win over Joelle King, the tall sixth seeded New Zealander, who had moments early on when it seemed she might be able to bully the champion into trouble. The biggest influence on the match, however, was the English rain and wind, which forced the day's play away from the all-glass court erected outdoors on Hull City's football pitch and into a nearby club with conventional plaster courts. That required a third change of conditions in three matches, disrupting the players' preparation and rhythm, which for a while appeared to place David under more pressure. “It was like day and night,” said David, comparing the warmish indoor court with the chilly outdoor atmosphere the evening before. “But we have to deal with what we are given.” Ramy Ashour, seeking to become the first Egyptian in nearly 50 years to win the British Open title, scored his 38th successive victory as he hurtled into the quarterfinals in little more than 20 minutes Thursday. Ashour overcame Chris Simpson, a qualifier from England, by 11-2, 11-4, 11-9, en route to what he hopes will be the eclipse of another Englishman, Nick Matthew, the defending champion whom he is seeded to meet in Sunday's final. Ashour next faces Borja Golan, the first Spanish-born player to reach the quarterfinals of the British Open, and could have a semifinal with James Willstrop, the Englishman who was world number one for much of last year. Willstrop's match with Simon Rosner of Germany was interrupted by rain at 6-5 in the first game, and eventually forced to move late at night to a conventional plaster court at a nearby club. Willstrop, the third seed, went on to complete a 11-9, 11-1, 11-6 win. However, the surprise packet in the top half is Cameron Pilley, the Netherlands based Australian who recovered from a game and 3-9 down, and then save three match points in a sensational 13-15, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 13-11 win over Mohamed El Shorbagy. Later there was also a good fight-back by Laura Massaro, the second-seeded Englishwoman, who beat Dipika Pallikal, the 15th-seeded Indian, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-6. — Agencies
