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Ricketts Does it Again

By Martin Bronstein © 2003 Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.
October 3, 2003

Ricketts takes White photo © 2003 Fritz Borchert

Ricketts started off in grand style doing just what he did in Boston, keeping White imprisoned in the back corners, unable to use his shots. White seemed unable to break out from the Ricketts-imposed pattern of play and failed to exhibit his usual confidence. As he was to say later, he felt frustrated, unable to do anything and robbed of his shots.

After losing the first game 5-15, another clean sweep seemed on the books for Ricketts but White came out thinking positively a ran to a 5-1 lead. Ricketts questioned a couple of decisions, allowed the cauldron of desire that is always within him to boil over and admitted later put pressure on himself with negative results. He even berated the referee when White he went off court to change rackets after breaking a string: when Ricketts is in that mode he can blow smoke out of his ears. Consequently he even He was unable to regain his disciplined game and White was in full flow as the slammed winners to earn him a 15-8 win to tie the match.

ALL CHANGE AGAIN – AN THEN AGAIN

We expected a hard fought third game but what we got was a Ricketts runaway 15-5 win in just 12 minutes, with White contributing seven errors towards his opponent’s cause. Ricketts was back on full concentration managing to put the lid on the cauldron and concentrate on the squash. He caught White out with some beautifully executed and well-timed boasts and never seemed troubled. White on the other hand was not the player of the second game and left the court looking dispirited.

The fourth game was yet another reversal, White taking the lead from the word go and never relinquishing it. The critical point came when Ricketts was just a point adrift at 10-9 when he was refused a let (quite rightly) and White pushed ahead to 11-9 and then hit three winners to get to game ball at which point Ricketts obliged with a forehand boast into the tin and White had the game to force a decider.

Ricketts got rid of his gremlins, soldered the lid on the cauldron and was pure concentration. The game started as though it would be a real fight to the finish but leading 6-4 Ricketts strung five great points together finishing them with a range of shots including a fast roll corner at the front left. Trailing 4-11 White had a long road to the winning post. That, coupled with Rickett’s energy and determination was too much and he could not summon the energy. The errors rolled of his racket and the third game became a gimme for Ricketts who happily took it 15-6 after only nine minutes of effort.

White summed up by saying that he felt frustrated being kept in the back corners.

“I slowed the pace in the second and he let a few calls get to him. In the fifth I just gave him too much of a start. And those errors in the fifth were terrible. I’m very disappointed.”

Ricketts was upbeat and articulate when he spoke to the press later, admitting he put pressure on himself which affected his game.

Grinham beats Botwright photo © 2003 Fritz Borchert

“I have never done well at the British Open and I came here wanting to get another semi-final under my belt. I’m very happy to be in the British Open – it’s always an important tournament. Right now I am at my most confident although I think my best is yet to come. In the next year and a half I expect to reach the top of my game.

MEN’S QUARTERS

Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt John White (Sco) 15-8, 8-15, 15-5, 10-15, 15-7 (83 mins).

David Palmer (Aus) bt Olli Tuominen (Fin) 15-9, 15-8, 15-13 (54mins)

WOMEN’S QUARTERS

Rachel Grinham (Aus) bt Vicki Botwright (Eng) 10-8, 9-0, 5-9, 9-4 (57mins