Jans-Burke upsets Reta
May 7, 2005, by Ryan Barnett
SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2005 all Rights Reserved;

Razik Earns Ticket for Show with 5-Game win over Ryding

A near capacity crowd gathered Friday evening in Toronto to witness semi-final action at the 2005 Canadian Squash Championships. Around midnight local time, once the smoke had cleared, Saturday's finalists were determined. On the women's side Alana Miller goes for back to back championships as she faces veteran Melanie Jans-Burke. While in men's action Jonathon Power will be hunting for his sixth crown in seven years as he squares off against Shahier Razik.

Melanie Jans-Burke and Runa Reta kicked off the evening for what everyone hoped would be a classic confrontation. Last year Reta announced herself as a contender for Canadian women's squash supremacy laying a licking on her at this juncture of the 2004 Nationals. Since then Reta has slowly began climbing the WISPA hierarchy having now built her world ranking to #32 and entered this tournament as the #1 seed. Jans-Burke on the other hand has pretty much said goodbye to her globetrotting days. She still competes in a few events here and there however most of her energy is spent in the confines of the Vancouver Lawn, Tennis and Badminton club where she's the resident squash pro. Seeded fourth Jans-Burke entered this one as the underdog.

Well, the match ended 3-1, exactly as it did last year; difference being it was Jans-Burke victorious this time around. She took the first two games thanks to early nerves from her opponent coupled with great shotmaking. Reta appeared to settle down and won the third but it was all Jans-Burke is the fourth. Post-match Reta offered up the following, "In the first two games I was all over the place while she came out really strong hitting some amazing length to keep me pinned in the back. In the 3rd I settled down, started feeling strong and I found my own length. I felt good going into the fourth but popped way to much in the middle and with a player of Melanie's caliber you can't do that, you're not going to get away with it"

So how does Jans-Burke feel about going for a fourth Canadian Championship? "I'm really looking forward to it. I can hardly wait. I feel so comfortable about my game right now. I'm enjoying my squash and being here in Toronto being able to share this with my family and friends is truly special"

Her opponent will be defending women's champion Alana Miller who also needed four games to vanquish her opponent. Miller built a big lead in the opening game against Carolyn Russell only to see Russell claw back and steal it 9-7. The final three games were all Miller as she never trailed in any of them and took full command of this semi-final encounter. Miller appears to be peaking at the perfect time and also feels confident about her game heading into the final. "I'm feeling strong, feeling good. I feel like this was a good match for me as my game is coming along. I'm really looking forward to playing Melanie tomorrow as it's been about a year and half since we last played"

The first men's semi-final of the evening saw Jonathon Power square off against Matthew Guiffre. Somewhere, someplace I've seen this movie before. Jonathon Power goes through the whole draw without dropping a single game, collects another Championship and quickly rushes out of the venue. He then boards the Concorde, travels to England for the Super Series Finals playing his first match Monday at 5PM...Sorry I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Giuffre put forth a spirited effort and in game #2 showed all in attendance that he can compete with the elite just not on this evening. Power's easily thru to play either Razik or Ryding. Any preference? "No..I'm not going to make a call on that one. I know Shahier is pretty confident in his game right now and Graham's been playing well all year so I don't know. I mean Graham's got the edge on him head to head but Shahier's beaten him before so he knows he can do it"

Shahier Razik beat Graham Ryding in a close 5 gamer that could of gone either way. This match was played between two guys who know each other's game so well and are so evenly matched that depending on how the ball bounces often determines who wins and who loses. Long rhythmic rallies with lobs thrown in courtesy of Razik plus straight drops slotted in via Ryding summarized each and every game. There were many decisions required of the referee but in the end Razik was deserving of this victory. As I went up to get his post match thoughts Razik asked a Squash Canada official to find a doctor. "My wrist has just cramped up like crazy which is why I had to go for all those drops in the last game" he then continues before I even ask a question. "Whenever I play Graham it's always a battle. I know exactly what shot he's going to hit and the same with him so that's why there was like a million lets out there because we know exactly where the ball is going. He knows which way I come in and I know which way he comes out so it's a little frustrating when someone knows your every move. I just have to take his legs away before I can play my game"

Any gas left in the tank for Power tomorrow? "Yeah I'm okay just hopefully the wrist is going to clear up as I think I have another one in me"

Time will tell. Saturdays action begins with the women at 2PM.

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