By Richard Eaton

Nick Matthew became the first  home-grown English player in 67 years to win the British Open squash title when he beat former world champion Thierry Lincou of France in Nottingham on Monday.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman came from 0-4 down in the final game to win 11-8, 5-11,11-4, 9-11, 11-6 against a tired opponent who the previous evening had come from two games down and  saved five match points in beating world champion David Palmer.

The only other England player to have won the British Open since 1939 was Peter Nicol - and he was born and raised in Scotland.

'I rang Peter to get some help with one or two things last night,' Matthew told reporters. 'And he gave me a couple of hints.

'You can't mention my name in the same breath as Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan but I am just happy to have my name on a trophy like this.'

Malaysia's Nicol David, the first Asian woman to become world No.1, retained the ladies title, beating Australian Rachel Grinham 9-4, 9-1, 9-4.

It was David's 17th successive win since her surprise loss to Grinham's younger sister Natalie in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March.