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Jackman Looking Good, Better, Best
By Martin Bronstein © 2003 Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.
October 4, 2003

There’s a spring in the step of Cassie Jackman, former world champion. She still has the joy of a someone who has been reprieved not once but twice. Two back operations would normally be the end of an athlete, but she has come back moving, she claims, better than ever. Her divorce is behind her and she has gotten over the stress which it caused. On court against Natalie Grainger she looked trim and determined and was hitting the ball, especially down the backhand wall, with real gusto.

She started quicker than Grainger and built up a rapid 6-1 lead, taking advantage of Grainger’s poor shots and bad width. Grainger loves to volley the ball, her favourite shot being the volley drop, but if she’s off course, she can be dismal.

At 6-1 down her shots started to work and she hit some lovely stuff from all over the court to work her way back to 6-6. This was just a little too scrappy to be good squash and we will have to put it down to nerves, the lack of rhythm and the poor shot selection.

Jackman then moved in to killer mode: a superb backhand drive to get the service back, a real cannonball forehand slam drop into the nick, a disguise low drive that had Grainger looking at the wrong wall and then a fine length to the back, forcing a backwall boast from Grainger that never reached the front wall. So 9-6 to Jackman in 13 minutes and Grainger , the second seed and world number two, going for a fast exit.

FINALLY, SOME GOOD RALLIES.

Grainger came back full of positive vibes and found the shots were working on the backhand side giving her a comfortable 4-0 lead. Any complacency was soon banished as Jackman took six points in a row, hitting the ball with authority to get to 6-4. At 7-5 they finally looked as they wanted to win. Grainger hit a spectacular backhand overhead into the nick to get to one point and they the service changed hands another four times before Grainger hit the worst shot in squash – the backhand boast into the tin (they all do it!)- to put Jackman at game ball. Grainger saved that one and hit a drop-and-drive combination to get to within one point. Once again the serve went back and forth and they were finally putting in some decent rallies.

On the fourth game ball Jackman hit a perfect backhand drop and she was home 9-7 after 16 minutes.

GRAINGER GOOD STARTER , BAD FINISHER

Grainger started the third well to lead 4-1, maintained it through four rallies before Jackman started to pull back, starting with fast forehand volley drop, one of the few forehands from her that didn’t hit the tin. Jackman has this weak spot and ever since I have been watching her she stands by the T and hits forehands into the tin. Now for once, the forehand was on target and she worked her way back to 4-4 and then 5-5 at which point she pulled away, Grainger committing two crucial errors to put Jackman at match ball. This time she only needed one try and a forehand drop was too good for Grainger, giving Jackman the match after 46 minutes.

It was by no means a great match and there were no fireworks to write about. Grainger must learn to work her opponent before going for the kill and – this surely goes without saying – sharpen her accuracy.

It is good to see Jackman back and playing so well: her appearance in the final tomorrow will reveal just how far she has got back to form.

RICKETTS IN A HURRY

Starting as though had already played two games, Anthony Ricketts took advantage of the slow starting world number three David Palmer and stole the first game before Palmer had tied his shoelaces. Ricketts in this mood is pure high-octane concentration and he moved his racket as though he were making a teaching video; perfect preparation, perfect weight and perfect follow through. His shot selection was pretty good too. He didn’t make a mistake until he had a comfortable 10-3 and then he made five unforced errors before hitting forehand chop drop to win 15-9.

Palmer said after the match that he does start slow and it worries him. I don’t see why it should. By the second game he was at cruising speed which he never relinquished. This was not exhibition squash, just very studied moves, countermoves and intelligent shot making. Ricketts, who does not like to trail in a game, kept his head and from 9-4 patiently worked his way back. His concentration was quite wonderful – even when he was trailing 10-14 he played the right shot at the right time but Palmer stopped him a with a snap roll corner from the back of the court that was too good and he had the game 15-12.

ONE DEGREE HIGHER

The temperature rose slightly in the third and they fought hard for the lead which changed hands five times before Palmer reached 14-12. A stroke to Ricketts made it 14-13 and then a fine backhand drop from Ricketts had Palmer diving full length towards the tin in a desperate effort to save the point. He failed and so it was 14-14. Palmer called No set and after some careful safety play he won the point when Ricketts was denied a let. Palmer left the court while Ricketts screamed at the referee that is was a let. The score stood: 15-14 to Palmer who now led 2/1.

ANGER IS A FINE FUEL

There was a different expression on Ricketts’ face for the fourth. Anger and mixed with determination. He stopped taking the ball off the back wall, moved up a yard or so and started volleying. Now the fireworks were starting and he must have taken Palmer by surprise to lead 9-6. Of the next six points Palmer contributed four errors to give Ricketts the tying game 15-8 in just 11 minutes.

AND DROP SHOTS ARE NOT BAD EITHER

It was Palmer’s turn to change tactics and suddenly he was putting in drops from everywhere – especially on high as Ricketts tried to pass him with lobs. From 2-5 down Palmer ran to 11-6 as though giving a seminar on the drop shot. This made Ricketts do a lot of charging and bending and the cracks started to show but he still frightened the reigning world champion when he made a mini comeback from 8-14 to 11-14 – that was four match balls – before Palmer smacked Ricketts’ serve straight down the nick for a 15-11 results a 3/2 win after 95 minutes

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [4] Jonathon Power (CAN) 12-15, 11-15, 17-14, 15-13, 15-13 (112m)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 9-15, 15-12, 15-14, 8-15, 15-12 (95m)

Women's semi-finals:
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [1] Carol Owens (NZL) 9-5, 9-7, 9-3 (38m)
[6] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-6, 9-7, 9-5 (46m