David, Nicol

Nicol David, (born August 26, 1983, Penang, Malaysia), Malaysian squash player who dominated the sport in the early 21st century and became the first to win eight World Open crowns (2005–06, 2008–12, 2014).

David’s interest in squash started at the age of five. In 1997 she reached the quarterfinals of the World Junior Squash Championships, and two years later the 15-year-old David became the youngest woman to win a World Junior Championship. In 2001 she defended that crown, becoming the first woman to capture the junior championship title twice. In between those events, David joined (2000) the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA). Soon after, she won the Savcor Finnish Open, becoming the youngest woman to win a championship. In 2000 David also claimed her first Kuala Lumpur Open title (later renamed the CIMB Nicol David KL Open Squash Championships), an event she won again in 2002 and 2005. The latter victory signaled the beginning of a breakout season for David—she went on to win six more titles in 2005 and ended that year by claiming her first World Open title.

David received international attention following her success in 2005, and in January 2006 she was officially ranked the number one female player in the world—a status never before held by an Asian woman. Her second consecutive World Open title capped a 2006 campaign in which she won six championships. David excelled further in 2007, securing seven titles and another World Open crown. She captured 10 titles during an undefeated 2008 season and began a 56-match winning streak that spanned 17 months before ending in a loss to American Natalie Grainger in the final of the 2009 Kuala Lumpur Open. David secured seven more titles in 2009, including her fourth World Open; she defended that championship in 2010 as part of a nine-title campaign. In the following season she earned seven more championship titles, including a record sixth World Open crown. During that tournament, David was inducted into the World Squash Federation Hall of Fame and declared the 12th “legend” of the sport.

David continued to add to her impressive career in 2012, winning seven of nine tournaments, including her fourth British Open—she had also won the event in 2005–06 and 2008—and a fifth straight World Open crown. After losing in the finals of the 2013 British Open, David won the event the following year. Also in 2014 she captured another World Cup. David’s play subsequently began to taper off, and she retired from competitive play in 2019.