Irish Open 2001

Draw/Results
Qualifiers
1st Round
Quarters
Semis
Final
Reports
Player Profiles

updated 28-May-2001

Squashtalk Pro Squash Headlines

Event Engine Squash:
Tourney of Champs
US Open
YMG Capital Classic

World Men's Open
Qatar Classic
Cathay Pacific
Superseries
Qatar Masters '02
British Open
Pakistan Open
Macau Open
Melbourne 01
Al Ahram
Video recordings
Player profiles
Rankings
Calendar

Independent Squash News By Edel Costigan May 25, 2001, Dublin
(Content © 2001; Photos © 2001 Debra Tessier - Squashphotos.com)

Irish Squash Open 2001              [Current Draw]

Derek Ryan again with great Heroics
John White saw what happened to Paul Price yesterday, and he had a different plan. White, the winner of the Antwerp Esso Open in March, came prepared for the crowd's roar - and roar they did, weighing in as loyal fans of local Derek Ryan.

White came out shooting from all corners of the court. When White is on, he is an amazing player, and today he was on. He was literally able to pull off an attacking shot from any location. Ryan's game plan became one of keeping the point going, waiting for the aggressor's error. It was great squash, because Derek Ryan was determined to get everything that White could throw at him. Time after time Ryan retrieved the ball, but John had another attacking shot waiting. White reeled in Ryan for a 15-10 win in game one. Ryan appeared tired and no one expected him to be able to rally.

Rally he did, taking a 10-7 lead in game two. At that point three unforced errors let White in the door, and the score was tied at 10. Now Ryan seemed even more tired but his determination won out and he took game two 15-12 to the delight of the fans.

Now Ryan was even more tired. He used every possible means to rest between point. Referee Jack Allen gave Ryan a warning for time-wasting. This time it was a spectator who called Referee Allen, a "donut" (see yesterday's account) Ryan couldn't make it against White's attacking, and White went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

In game four, Ryan gave it all he had -- and it was enough to take it 15-13 and even the score at 2-2. It seemed that Ryan must fade now. But no. He pulled out even more reserves of grit - to the delight of the fans. It was great squash, White shooting from everywhere -- Ryan getting the ball back, keeping it going, looking for the opening.

At the end though, it was White's devastating backhand drop, which had been bothering Ryan all match, that bothered Derek Ryan more and more as he grew tired. The fifth and final game went to White, 15-11

Beachill fast but Nicol Sharper
Lee Beachill entered today's match against Peter Nicol brimming with confidence after downing Simon Parke yesterday. So, though, did Peter Nicol. It made for some high quality and interesting squash. Beachill and Nicol attacked each other with pace, touch and determination.

After Nicol took the first game at 15-10, Lee Beachill demonstrated some amazing speed to put a lot of pressure on Nicol in game two. After some impressive gets brought him a lead, Beachill finished off game two with two great deception shots.

In game three, Peter Nicol raised the level of his play, but Beachill stayed with him. At 14-11, Nicol played a point that he though had brought him the game, but a Beachill appeal of a Nicol get resulted in a let. Beachill battled back to 13-14 before Nicol took the decisive third game on a stroke called against Beachill. Nicol kept the advantage throughout the fourth and final game.

After the match Nicol remarked, "My play in the last few months hasn't been focused enough. I've gotten much fitter, I'm focused now, and my goal is to win the British Open and get back to #1 in the world."

Hello Paul?
Paul Johnson never got started today against David Evans, and Evans was too focused to let him. Evans cruised through in three easy games.

Palmer wins Sudden Death
Martin Heath raised the level of his game, but so did David Palmer.

The two tall and attacking players engaged in a great contest. Game one saw them trading points almost evenly. The entire game was played at high tension and at a high level. At fourteen all in the first game between, David Palmer surprised everyone by calling no-set. He won that sudden death point on a stroke awarded against Heath.. That first game, that was practically dead-even, point-by-point, went for twenty-seven minutes.

From that point on Martin Heath seemed to lose his heightened focus - Heath producing some great play but at the crucial points he suffered from unforced errors while Palmer played flawlessly at those same crucial points. The final three points involved three Heath unforced errors, the #8 Scotsman surrendering the match to the world #3 from Australia.

Results - FitzWilliam Irish Open 2001

Quarterfinals - May 25th
[1] Peter Nicol def [Q] Lee Beachill 15-10, 11-15, 15-13, 15-10
[6] John White def Derek Ryan 15-10, 12-15, 15-8, 12-15, 15-11
[3] David Evans def Paul Johnson 15-8, 15-9, 15-8
[4] David Palmer def Martin Heath 15-14, 10-15, 15-8, 15-10

COLLEGE USA
Schedules
Team previews

DEPARTMENTS
Latest news
Tournament Calendar
Bronstein Global Gallery
Player of the month
Videos
History
Pakistan Squash
School Squash
Camp Index
Features Index
Player Profiles
Worldwide Clubs
Worldwide Links
Rankings
Jobs

More Good stuff:
About Squash
   Just starting
Books
Juniors Squash
Women's Squash
Regional Reports

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2003. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, 95 Martha's Point Rd. Concord MA 01742 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster.
Copyright © 1999-2003 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use.