Vanessa Atkinson, TOC 2006 champion photo © 2006 Debra Tessier. more photos

Amr Shabana and Vanessa Atkinson both put their mark on New York's Tournament of Champions, on a bittersweet day in New York City.

Sweet, because the new champions both can make a claim that their Tournament of Champions wins may springboard bids to achieve world number one status. Sweet because squash in the USA achieved unprecedented visibility with an extended on the nationally televised Good Morning America show. Bittersweet because two competitors who have defined the TOC for the past 9 years, Peter Nicol of Scotland and Jonathon Power of Canada, have competed here for the final time.

Nick Matthew, who has enjoyed a fabulous tournament, defeating first James Willstrop and then Jonathon Power, came down to earth today when his all-around game was tamed by the offensive firepower and sheer creativity of Egyptian Amr Shabana's game.

Vanessa Atkinson has capped off a six week period, beginning nearby in Rye, New York, where she won the Apawamis Open at the expense of World Champion, Nicol David, continuing in Malaysia where she again defeated Nicol David, to collect the KL Open crown, and then back in New York, where she stopped world #5 Natalie Grainger to win the TOC title.

Third seed Shabana was certainly the favourite going into the evening’s final against ninth seed Nick Matthew of England. The gifted Egyptian had won five of his last eight PSA Tour events and all week had made the task of defeating the top players in the game look effortless. The final match was no exception as Shabana needed just 40 minutes to secure his first Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions title in an 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 scoreline.

Matthew’s game plan had been simple: he wanted to get in front of his opponent and take the middle of the court just as he had all week in making his way to the finals. “He didn’t give me an inch,” said Matthew after the match. “Halfway through the second game, I had to throw my game plan out the window. Shabana was just twisting and turning me all around the court.”

Shabana said that he knew he had to be 'good' against Matthew: "Because he’ll volley everything he can.” 'Good' was an understatement for the quality of play exhibited by the left-handed Egyptian in the tournament’s last match, just as it had been most of the week. Every aspect of the Shabana game was in precise working order – his length was perfect, he moved easily to cover all balls and after waiting patiently for the opportune moment to shoot, executed his shots perfectly.

In the seven years that Shabana has competed at the Tournament of Champions, the crowds have been treated to flashes of his brilliance but he had never sustained the quality of play long enough to get past the semi-finals. This year's final was the realisation of the potential that has been evident for more than a decade. The decisive victory by the 26-year-old from Cairo heralded the arrival of the player worthy of inheriting the mantle of the two champions - Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power - who between them had won this tournament seven times.

Amr Shabana, TOC 2006 champion photo © 2006 Debra Tessier.

“It is nice to be able to win this championship after all these years,” said Shabana, referring to the fact that he started competing in the tournament of Champions as a 16-year-old. “I’ve always had my eye on this tournament because it is one of the majors and it has such a great history. All the great players have won it – Jansher Khan, Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power.” It was entirely fitting that the championship trophy was presented to Shabana by his sometime training partner Jonathon Power, who had announced his retirement from the PSA Tour earlier in the day.

In the women’s draw, top-seed Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands won her third consecutive tour title of the year, defeating No3 seed Natalie Grainger by playing an attacking game. The sell-out crowd in the stands under the massive gilt chandeliers got to see two of the purest hitters in the women’s game vie for North America’s most prestigious title. Both players were on a bit of a comeback trail. The 29-year-old Atkinson had stumbled through a confidence slump at the end of 2005 and 28-year-old Grainger had suffered a series of year end injuries which sidelined her from the women’s tour.

As she has all week, Grainger started the match like a high speed train, storming out to a 4-0 lead. “Natalie is the best pure hitter in the game and it is not unusual for her to get off to a fast start like that,” said Atkinson after the match. “But I have seen her do that often enough that it didn’t worry me because I know she is not going to keep up that pace.” Indeed, the Dutchwoman turned the first game in her favour, winning 9-6. Grainger stormed out again in the second, taking a 7-1 lead, and on her fourth game ball won the game 9-7.

The second game win for Grainger did not dent Atkinson’s confidence. “The big difference in my game from a year ago is that I feel quite confident that I can go on and win even when I am not playing great matches,” said the player who has been known to have a fragile psyche. When Atkinson stepped up her attack in the third and fourth games, Grainger started to visibly tire and the defending champion won the third and fourth games with relative ease 9-3, 9-4 to hold onto her title.

“I am particularly happy to have won this tournament for a second time because it shows I now have a consistency that has been lacking in my game,” said Atkinson. “And I love winning here at Grand Central. I am a city girl and what better city is there than New York!”

[Men's Draw] [Womens Draw]   

 

Tourmanent of Champions, PSA Draw
Grand Central Terminal New York
Final results:
MEN :
[3] Amr Shabana (Egy) bt [9] Nick Matthew (Eng) 11-6 11-9 11-4

Women's Semi-finals:
[1] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [3] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-6 7-9 9-3 9-4

The recently retired Jonathon Power with the new TOC champion Amr Shabana and finalist Nick Matthew. photo © 2006 Debra Tessier. more photos