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Parke gets surprise Win
He tops Peter Nicol as Rebecca Macree wins too

By Tim Garner © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
June 19, 2003 

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World no. 12 Simon Parke scored a surprise victory over World no.1 in the Prince Grand Prix Finals at Leamington Tennis & Squash Club. Parke last played at the club 13 years ago and was victorious on that occasion but this win will be all the sweeter with the probable meeting bewteen the pair in the Quarter Finals of next weeks Spanish Open. Parke's last big win over Peter Nicol was in the 1999 semi final round of the US Open, where he defeated Nicol in a spectacular, classic five game contest. Nicol then barely topped Parke in the June 2000 Final round of the Super Series finals. The two have not played a late-round contest since then. This win, important for Parke's confidence going into his all-important fall 2003 season, signal's Parke's true return to form after a long rehab from heel surgery.

Both players started quickly and the capacity crowd were treated to some excellent squash in the opening exchanges. Nicol was ahead for much of the game but Parke pegged him back and a tinned volley from the top seed gave Parke the opening game in 30 minutes. Nicol began the stronger in the second but when leading 9-5 he appeared to jarr his foot and Parke swept back to 12-9. However, he hit the ball out of court in the next rally and then gifted the next point to apparently let Nicol back in. Clearly still in some discomfort Nicol went for early winners but instead found the tin and Parke's relentless pressure helped him move ahead 2-0. The third was no contest with Parke, sensing victory, upping the pace and Nicol, sensing defeat, looking increasingly disconsolate.

So after 65 minutes Parke was the new champion, 13 years after he last lifted a trophy on the court. "I think I might have to come here and train!" a delighted Parke quipped.

World no.7 Rebecca Macree successfully defended her Prince Grand Prix Finals title, beating world no.11 Steph Brind in straight games. Earlier this year, Brind displaced Macree at the top of the Prince Grand Prix and the top seed was clearly determined to re-assert her authority.

The first was the tightest of the three with Macree taking an early lead before Brind edged ahead 6-4 making full use of her armoury of boasts and cross-court drops. however, top seed Macree stepped up the court and, as she increased the pressure, Brind's error rate crept up and Macree took the game 9/6. From there on Macree was always in control and her second successive Prince Finals title was achieved after 40 minutes of play.

Finals:
Simon Parke bt Peter Nicol 3-0 15/11 15/12 15/4 65 mins
Rebecca Macree bt Steph Brind 3-0 9/6 9/2 9/5 40 mins

Semi-Finals:
Peter Nicol bt Rodney Durbach 3-0 17/15 15/4 15/9 50 mins
Simon Parke bt Tim Garner 3-2 15/6 15/8 10/15 14/15 15/8 100 mins

Rebecca Macree bt Carla Khan 3-0 9/6 9/6 9/2 40 mins
Steph Brind bt Lauren Briggs 3-1 9/5 9/3 2/9 9/5 45 mins

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