LAURA Massaro admitted she wasn’t sure where her form had come from as she claimed the glory of the Kuala Lumpar Squash Open title yesterday morning thanks to a straight-game win over Alison Waters.

Hoghton’s British number one, who plays North West Counties League squash for East Lancashire, claimed the title after a tussle with her fellow countrywoman that was closer than the final score suggested.

And while the modest 29-year-old was delighted with the win she conceded that it had come as something of a shock.

“I haven’t really been playing that well so I didn’t expect to play like that,” she said.

“Even though I am not sure where the form came from, I am really proud to have found it and won the trophy.”

The final was a meeting between two Englishwomen who had met 26 times before – although no Englishwoman had previously contested a KL Open final.

Massaro led Alison Waters 14-12 in their head-to-head meetings but their last 10 games had been shared with Waters winning the last, February’s British Nationals final 15-13 in the fifth.

And the Kuala Lumpar contest saw a tight opening game with never more than a couple of points between the players.

Waters took the first lead at 6-4 before Massaro put four good points together to lead 8-6.

Waters went into a 9-8 lead before Massaro’s volleys took her to 11-9 and the game.

In the second game Massaro got off to the better start leading 6-2 before Waters staged a fightback. However Massaro was in no mood to be denied and she rallied once again to charge to an 11-7 victory.

The local was on the back foot in the third as Waters went 2-0 ahead but Massaro, finding the perfect line and length, responded to go 4-2 and then 6-3 ahead.

Waters refused to lie down and fought back to 6-7. Massaro dug deep and her forehand drives took her over the line.

She had beaten world number one Nicol David en-route to the final - and the whole week cheered Massaro.

“It’s great to win and I am really happy with my performance this week,” she said.

“Initially I was trying to get past the quarters having only ever made it to the semi finals here before but it has gone really well.

“It was good to beat Nicol and then to go on and win – even though I didn’t really expect it.”