International Squash Magazine - March 2006

INTERNATIONAL
MARCH | 2006
UK £3.00 | €4.50 | USA $5.50
MAGAZINE
NICK MATTHEW
& TANIA BAILEY
WIN BRITISH NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
DAVID PALMER
WINS WINDY
CITY OPEN
ANTHONY
RICKETTS
WINS AUSTRALIAN
OPEN
AMR
SHABANA
WINS CANADIAN
CLASSIC
Order online
Photography by squashpics.com
BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
NICKMATTHEW
& TANIABAILEY
WIN BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s Final:
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [3] Lee Beachill (ENG)
11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 10-11(0-2), 11-10(2-0)
Women’s Final:
[2] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [1] Linda Elriani (ENG)
9-7, 6-9, 9-6, 9-3
In a fitting climax to the tenth successive staging
of the British National Championships in
Manchester, Nick Matthew claimed a spectacular
11-9 6-11 11-9 10-11(0-2) 11-10(2-0) win over
defending Champion Lee Beachill on the all-glass
court at the National Squash Centre in Sportcity.
Twice Matthew had led and twice the
defending Champion, celebrating a record
sixth successive appearance in the final,
came back to draw level. In a dramatic fifth
game decider, it was the title holder who
first reached match ball, but at 10-6 and on
the verge of becoming the first player to
win the title for a fourth time in the open
era, Matthew clawed back his opponent's
advantage, finally breaking Beachill’s spirit
with brave attacking volleys combined with
breathtaking retrieval.
"At the end, I had absolutely nothing left
to give," said Beachill after Matthew
celebrated his 105 minute victory – the
longest match of the tournament.
Competing for the first time in 2006
following exploratory knee surgery in
January, Beachill admitted that he was
pleased overall with his performances in
the event, which included clinical wins
over Hadrian Stiff, Nick Taylor and Adrian
Grant, as well as a courageous 83-minute
11-5 8-11 3-11 11-5 11-8 semi-final victory over
top seed James Willstrop.
Matthew reached his maiden final with an
equally impressive sequence of victories
which accounted for Welsh Champion Alex
Gough, as well as former Champions
Simon Parke and Peter Nicol.
minute final to overcome her 34-year-old
England team-mate who won the title for
the first time last year in her seventeenth
appearance in the event.
"I've always said that you need a little bit
of luck to win a major event such as this,”
conceded the 25-year-old on his official
website www.NickMatthew.com.
“I’ve had opportunities against most of
the world’s top players over the past
twelve months without actually going on
to win and thankfully fortune favoured me
at crucial times during this tournament.”
England’s Tania Bailey claimed her maiden
National title success with a commanding
9-7 6-9 9-6 9-3 win against title-holder
Linda Elriani in the women's final.
The former World Junior Champion, who
only returned to the international circuit
just a year ago after contracting a careerthreatening viral infection which affected
her respiratory system, remained focused
throughout an entertaining seventy-six
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 03
WINDY CITY OPEN
Final:
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt
[5] Jonathon Power (CAN)
11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-10(2-0)
Australian David Palmer saved four
match balls in a dramatic fifthgame decider in the final of the
SSA Global Windy City Open at the
University Club in Chicago, USA to
defeat Jonathon Power 11-5 5-11 11-8
9-11 11-10(2-0) and claim his
seventeenth World Tour career title.
DAVIDPALMER
WINS SSA GLOBAL WINDY CITY OPEN
Trailing 6-10 in the deciding game, the Australian secured six
successive points to eventually win North America’s richest event
in eighty-eight minutes, overcoming spirited resistance from
Power, who twice fought back from Palmer leads.
Without being overtly flamboyant or unduly theatrical, Power
reached his third successive major final, and the sixty-first of his
career, with wins over Liam Kenny, Gregory Gaultier and Anthony
Ricketts, before surviving a sixty-six minute five game semi-final
against Egypt's World Champion Amr Shabana, which the
Canadian won 11-9 7-11 11-1 9-11 11-5.
In contrast, fourth seed Palmer reached his first final since
losing to Shabana in December’s World Open with relative ease,
overcoming Jonathan Kemp, Alex Gough, John White and
James Willstrop.
For Thierry Lincou, who spent the whole of 2005 as World No.1,
the championships marked his sixth successive failure to achieve
his seeding in a major event, defeated 5-11 11-8 11-4 11-3 by
Shabana in a fifty-four minute quarter-final.
England's former World No.1 Lee Beachill, who had, by his own
standards, a disappointing and undistinguished 2005, was forced
to withdraw from the event following exploratory knee surgery.
Compatriot Nick Matthew, elevated to eighth seed in the absence
of the three time British Champion, secured his third successive
win over Stewart Boswell since the Australian mounted his
successful comeback last year, before eventually bowing-out to
James Willstrop in an enthralling sixty-seven minute quarterfinal, 11-6 6-11 11-6 7-11 11-8.
With all top eight seeds featuring in the quarter-finals and with
three of the four matches being repeats of recent major finals,
the twenty-eighth Windy City Open emphasised the current
strength in depth of the men’s professional game, underlining
that this is indeed an era of multiple rivalries, multiple styles and
different generations, where the outcome of matches have never
been more varied.
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 05
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
ANTHONYRICKETTS
WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Final:
[1] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
bt [2] David Palmer (AUS)
11-9, 11-8, 11-9
Renowned for his aggressive and
uncompromising style of play, the
popular Australian overcame Paul Price,
Craig Roland and Stewart Boswell before
defeating Palmer 11-9 11-8 11-9 in a
thrilling forty-eight minute final.
Ricketts, whose career appeared to hang
in the balance in 2004 after an absence
of six months from the World Tour to
undergo surgery to repair tissue damage
to his right knee, enjoyed a sensational
2005; winning the British Open in
England, the prestigious Tournament of
Champions at Grand Central Terminal in
New York, USA, and rising to a career
Anthony Ricketts needed just three straight
games to overcome compatriot David Palmer
in the final of the Australian Open held at the
Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, venue of
the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
high of No.3 in the Men’s World Rankings.
"2005 was fantastic for me and this is
the perfect way to start the New Year"
said Ricketts on his official website
www.AnthonyRicketts.com.
“My earlier wins, particularly against
Stewart Boswell in the semi-final, gave
me a lot of confidence for my match
against David and I’m really pleased with
the way that I played in the final. The
Australian Open is a very important title
for all Australians and it’s great to get
my name on the trophy again” added
Ricketts, who first won Australia's most
prized trophy in 2000.
PACE CANADIAN CLASSIC
AMRSHABANA
WINS PACE CANADIAN CLASSIC
Final:
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt
[1] Jonathon Power (CAN)
11-9, 11-8, 11-5
World Champion Amr Shabana recorded only his second career victory
over Jonathon Power with an 11-9 11-8 11-5 win in the final of the PACE
Canadian Classic in Toronto.
However, the pair's seventh World Tour
meeting produced a disappointing climax
with the match effectively settled during
a nineteen minute first game in which
Power took a three-minute injury break to
receive treatment to his lower spine.
Grimacing with pain from almost the
first rally of the second game and with
increasingly limited movement, Power,
was forced to go for early winners.
In response, Shabana, sensing his
opponents distress but wary of his
dramatic tendencies, attacked the front
of the court with beautifully weighted
angles and drops to close-out the match
in just thirty-seven minutes.
The talented Egyptian’s infectious
enthusiasm, running parallel with his
brilliant shot making and new-found
concentration, earned him many new
admirers during a week in which his
impressive form accounted for Laurens
Jan Anjema in his opening match and
compatriots Wael El Hindi and Karim
Darwish in the quarter-finals and semifinals respectively.
However, Power’s misfortune at being
unable to fully contest an eagerly
awaited final between two of the sports
most talented exponents denied the
victor of an opportunity to truly
consummate a much deserved victory.
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 07
MEN’S WORLD TOUR REVIEW
MEN’SWORLD
QATAR CLASSIC WORLD OPEN MEN’S WORLD TEAM
Has there ever been a finish to a year quite like the closing months of
2005? Four Eastern tournaments, three in Muslim states, a first ever
combined World Open, and at last, for the poor, exhausted, often overworked players, more money.
2005 saw Jonathon Power clinch the year-end World No.1
ranking in the very last match at the Saudi International
Championships in Al Khobar, preserving a shaft of the limelight
for the older brigade.
It also witnessed James Willstrop win the Qatar Classic and
lead England's World Team title triumph in Pakistan, helping
usher in a younger, more varied, less predictable era along with
Amr Shabana, who won the World Open in Hong Kong.
The ground-breaking quartet of events began in Doha, once a
desert-trapped little town and now a multi-cultural location
with elegant Islamic architecture shooting skywards.
Willstrop claimed, after beating David Palmer 11-1 11-7 11-7 in the
final, that "this is as big as it gets". The cool, air-conditioned
court gave the 22-year-old Englishman good value for his
ability to find the corners consistently and even better value
with attempts to take the resultant openings.
Willstrop had defeated veteran Alex Gough and Australia’s
in-form Anthony Ricketts in the quarter-finals and semi-finals
respectively, whilst Palmer had endured five-game marathons
with Thierry Lincou and Gregory Gaultier - and his body was
aching. "I'm really looking forward to getting my physio on tour
next week," he said. When he did, it made a difference.
Only a couple of days later they were all on court again, four
thousand miles away and five hours ahead. That made the
Cathay Pacific Credit Suisse Privilege World Open in Hong
Kong hard enough, but they also had to adapt to three types
of court in one event. Nevertheless it produced one of the
year's great tactical battles.
Thierry Lincou lost his title with an 8-11 11-3 11-5 11-9 quarterfinal defeat to Peter Nicol, whose sharp perception and
imaginative gambles enabled him to grab the initiative against
the heavier-hitting champion.
But the following day, the 32-year-old was badly beaten by Amr
Shabana, claiming he could not see a ball soiled by stencil ink
from his opponent's strings. Palmer made similar complaints
after losing 11-6 11-7 11-8 to Shabana in the final, though the
Egyptian's wrist masked the ball even better than the ink. He
was also fresher than anyone else, a wrist injury which
sidelined him for nineteen days proving a disguised blessing.
08 | INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006
The other mens semi-final had Palmer avenging himself on
Willstrop, his 11-9 11-10(3-1) 11-10(2-0) win being described by his
coach Shaun Moxham as "the best match I ever saw him play."
Willstrop had been no less brilliant than during his 11-6 7-11 11-6
11-6 quarter-final win over Power, and though there was only a
handful of points in it, Palmer’s fierce and accurate approach,
forcing his tall opponent to turn more, proved decisive.
TOURREVIEW
CHAMPIONSHIPS SAUDI INTERNATIONAL
By Richard Eaton
A week later the Englishman was playing differently, grinding
out two games against Shabana in Islamabad and wearing him
down 4-9 9-6 9-3 9-1. It virtually decided the World Team final,
England quickly going on to beat Egypt 2-0.
Ricketts looked tense, while Power showed the value of 31
years' experience: less fretful when things didn't go so well,
playing out the rallies when necessary, lethal at the front when
given a chance.
Australia lost their title in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Canada,
with Power's 1-9 9-3 9-4 9-3 defeat of British Open Champion
Anthony Ricketts the fore-runner of a bigger showdown the
following week.
In this way, four years after he was last No.1, Power at last
conquered himself. "I just had to stop making excuses and
actually do it," he said, tempering triumph with reflection.
The Australian would have become year-end World No.1 by
avenging himself in the Saudi final, but despite a year of injury
problems, Power prevailed 11-4 11-9 4-11 11-5.
The tournament was a triumph too. To some ex-pats Al Khobar
has meant living in compounds with security fences. Not so
with the first major squash event in Saudi Arabia. Rather, it
may have brought some fences down.
Qatar Classic Final:
[8] James Willstrop (ENG) bt
[3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-1, 11-7, 11-7
Cathay Pacific Credit Suisse
Privilege World Open, Hong Kong
Final:
[5] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt
[3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
Men's World Team Championships
Final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [2] EGYPT 2-0
James Willstrop bt Amr Shabana
4-9, 9-6, 9-3, 9-1
Peter Nicol bt Mohammed Abbas
9-0, 9-2, 9-1
Lee Beachill v Karim Darwish
(match withdrawn - dead rubber)
Saudi International Final:
[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 09
NICOL DAVID
NICOLDAVID
WORLD CHAMPION
& WORLD No.1
By Richard Eaton
“You are more famous than me now,” the Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Datuk Seri Ahmad Badawi, told Nicol David - according to the New
Straits Times, as a joke. If it was, there is news for him. She is.
After becoming the first Asian woman to
win the British Open, then the first to
become World No.1, and to win the World
Open, David is more than merely famous
in the Far East. With her astonishing
speed, mixed race parentage, deceptively
vulnerable smile and rapidly changing life
style, she has the potential to bear a
banner for the women’s movement
throughout a continent and perhaps
worldwide. If jingoism blinded some to
this, it is not surprising. The
22-year-old’s rise was like that of a lunarbound Apollo with booster rockets
cleverly and dramatically hidden.
When David captured her first title of 2005,
the Kuwait Open in March, few would have
predicted what was to happen next.
Her lift-off continued by winning the World
Games in Duisburg in July, when she beat
top-seed Rachael Grinham with a smile
and a wave. “I came here just wanting to
enjoy myself,” David said, though she was
soon to become so public a property that
such care-free statements would sound
like an indulgence.
The following month she became the first
local woman to win the Malaysian Open
title, beating the then World Champion
Vanessa Atkinson in five games, by this
time it was becoming apparent that
something sensational was beginning to
happen. David’s court coverage, perhaps
as nimble as any in the history of the
women’s game, was being supplemented
by better grooving in her swing, an
impressive strengthening of her focus,
and a frightening intensifying of her
ambition. But articulating her successes
was still not easy. “It’s really hard to
describe how I feel about this,” she told
Kuala Lumpur spectators, “But I am really
happy you turned up to cheer me.”
Two months later in Manchester she won
the Dunlop British Open, beating both
Grinham sisters this time, Rachael in the
semi‘s and Natalie in the final in straight
games. She was more emphatic about her
emotions too. “It feels so good,” she said.
“Ever since I was young it has been my
ambition to win the most prestigious
tournament of all.” Had it been intended
as a compliment to iSPORTmarketing™
for rescuing the championships when
it was in danger of disappearing,
David could hardly have acted the
diplomat better.
Nor could she have worn a better pair of
professional blinkers than at the World
Open in Hong Kong two months later,
when she learnt she was about to become
World No.1 the night before the final. When
this happened to Thierry Lincou in Lahore
in 2003, he became so ensnared in the
publicity that he failed to win a final for
which he was favourite. No chance of that
with the elfin lady.
David overcame this distraction, as well as
a difficult start and a late Rachael
Grinham revival, plus a persistently
slippery floor which the players eventually
brushed themselves, before sweeping to
an 8-10 9-2 9-7 9-7 triumph.
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 11
WORLD TOUR ROUND-UP
WORLDTOURROUND-UP
Scotland's John White defeated Ramy Ashour of Egypt 11-5 11-3 11-6 to take the EBS
Dayton Open title in Ohio, USA before going on to overcome England’s Adrian Grant
11-9 11-6 11-9 in the final of the Davenport Virginia Pro Championships in Richmond,
USA marking the tenth World Tour title of his career.
2
➔
EBS Dayton Open Final:
[1] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
1
➔
JOHN WHITE WINS EBS DAYTON OPEN & DAVENPORT
VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Davenport Virginia Professional Championships
[1] John White (SCO) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-9 11-6 11-9
WSF WORLD DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
4
➔
WSF World Doubles Championships, Melbourne, Australia
Men's Doubles Final:
[1] Anthony Ricketts & Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [2] Dan Jenson & Joseph Kneipp (AUS)
7-9, 4-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-5
Mixed Doubles Final:
[1] Rachael Grinham & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [5/8] Amelia Pittock & Cameron Pilley (AUS)
9-6, 9-1, 5-9, 9-4
Women's Doubles Final:
Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) bt Robyn Cooper & Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS)
9-6, 10-8, 9-6
3
➔
Hosts Australia won two out of three Gold Medals at the third WSF World Doubles
Championships held at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, venue of
the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
Anthony Ricketts and Stewart Boswell recovered from two games down to defeat
fellow Australians Dan Jenson and Joseph Kneipp 7-9 4-9 9-4 9-7 9-5 to take the
Men’s Doubles crown.
Rachael Grinham and Joseph Kneipp defeated compatriots Amelia Pittock and
Cameron Pilley 9-6 9-1 5-9 9-4 to take the World Mixed title.
New Zealanders Shelley Kitchen and Tamsyn Leevey denied a clean sweep of Gold
Medals for the hosts when they beat Robyn Cooper & Sarah Fitz-Gerald 9-6 10-8 9-6
in the Women's Doubles final.
5
6
7
LAURENCE DELASAUX WINS HITHERCROFT OPEN
England's former European Junior Champion Laurence Delasaux defeated fourth-seed
Hungarian Mark Krajcsak 11-6 11-10(3-1) 11-7 to win the Hithercroft Open in Oxfordshire,
England and earn the second World Tour title of his career.
Final:
[7] Laurence Delasaux (ENG) bt [4] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 11-6, 11-10(3-1), 11-7
8
RENAN LAVIGNE WINS NORTH SHORE CREDIT
UNION/COMFORT INN OPEN
Renan Lavigne of France collected his seventh World Tour title with a marathon 110minute 11-5 11-10(2-0) 9-11 6-11 11-9 victory over England’s Joey Barrington in the final
of the North Shore Credit Union/Comfort Inn Open held at Evergreen Squash Club in
Vancouver, Canada.
9
DAVID
PALMER
JONATHON
POWER
AMR
SHABANA
ANTHONY
RICKETTS
THIERRY
LINCOU
JAMES
WILLSTROP
PETER
NICOL
LEE
BEACHILL
NICK
MATTHEW
Final:
[1] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [2] Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-5, 11-10(2-0), 9-11, 6-11, 11-9
10 JOHN
WHITE
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 13
WORLD TOUR ROUND-UP
WORLDTOURROUND-UP
VANESSA ATKINSON WINS MONTE CARLO CLASSIC,
QATAR CLASSIC & APAWAMIS OPEN
1
Despite losing her World Open crown in December, Vanessa Atkinson recently claimed
three World Tour titles. The World No.2 defeated Ireland’s Madeline Perry 9-2
9-5 9-7 in the final of the Monte Carlo Classic, England’s Vicky Botwright 9-7 9-4 9-2 in
the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha and World No.1 Nicol David 9-6 9-2 9-10 9-7 in the
final of the Apawamis Open.
Monte Carlo Classic Final:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-2, 9-5, 9-7
2
NICOL
DAVID
VANESSA
ATKINSON
Qatar Classic Final:
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [6] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-7, 9-4, 9-2
3
Apawamis Open Final:
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [1] Nicol David (MAS) 9-6, 9-2, 9-10, 9-7
RACHAEL
GRINHAM
JENNY DUNCALF WINS PRINCE CANARY ISLANDS
& HARROW GREENWICH OPENS
England's Jenny Duncalf upset compatriot and defending champion Vicky Botwright
9-4 9-6 9-4 in the final of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain - the last women’s
tournament of 2005 - to lift the Prince Canary Islands Open. Competing in her first
event of 2006, the 23-year-old collected her third World Tour career title with a 10-8
9-5 9-3 win over compatriot Alison Waters in the final of the Harrow Greenwich Open
in Connecticut, USA.
Prince Canary Islands Open Final:
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-4, 9-6, 9-4
4
5
NATALIE
GRINHAM
VICKY
BOTWRIGHT
Harrow Greenwich Open Final:
[3] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [5] Alison Waters (ENG) 10-8, 9-5, 9-3
6
LINDA ELRIANI WINS EBS DAYTON OPEN
England’s Linda Elriani fought back from 1/2 down to overcome Omneya Abdel Kawy of
Egypt 9-5 6-9 7-9 9-5 9-6 in the final of the EBS Dayton Open in Ohio, USA.
Final:
[1] Linda Elriani (ENG) bt [2] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 9-5, 6-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-6
7
ENGY KHEIRALLAH WINS ATLANTA MASTERS
LINDA
ELRIANI
NATALIE
GRAINGER
Egyptian Engy Kheirallah defeated Latasha Khan 9-0 9-2 9-2 to win the Atlanta
Masters title to complete her fourth victory in four World Tour finals.
Final:
[2] Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt [1] Latasha Khan (USA) 9-0, 9-2, 9-2
FIONA GEAVES WINS FLORIDA STATE OPEN
England’s Fiona Geaves beat compatriot Lauren Briggs 9-5 9-3 9-3 in the final of the
Florida State Open in Boca Raton, USA to claim the title without dropping a single game.
➔
8
9
Final:
[1] Fiona Geaves (ENG) bt [3] Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-5, 9-3, 9-3
JENNY
DUNCALF
TANIA
BAILEY
SHARON WEE WINS SOUTH EAST ASIAN GAMES
Final:
[1] Sharon Wee (MAS) bt [2] Tricia Chuah (MAS) 8-10, 2-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-3
10 MADELINE
PERRY
➔
Malaysia Sharon Wee fought back from two games down to claim the South East Asian
Games title when she defeated fellow compatriot Tricia Chuah 8-10 2-9 9-2 9-2 9-3 at
the Makati Sports Club in the Philippines capital Manila.
INTERNATIONALSQUASH MAGAZINE March 2006 | 15
Lee BEACHILL
Anthony RICKETTS
OFFICIAL RACKET
& FOOTWEAR
Karim DARWISH
David PALMER
James WILLSTROP
Nick MATTHEW
Thierry LINCOU
Amr SHABANA
NATIONAL SQUASH CENTRE, MANCHESTER
Friday 8th to Monday 11th September 2006 TICKET HOTLINE: (0870) 220 0735
BOOK ONLINE: www.iSPORTticketing.com
SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS
BRITISH GRAND PRIX