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[Jonathon Power summary and statistics]

by Ron Beck

Power regained the #1 world ranking in April 2001, taking over from Peter Nicol. He relinquished it again in August, and would have been back on top in September except for his bout with Tonsillitis on arrival in Hong Kong.

Does Jonathon Power have anything left to prove? "I'd like to play a role in helping North American become more prominent in squash," says the approachable world #1 player.

Power is showing new signs of taking his #1 ranking position seriously this time. His determination, maturity, and consistency were all at a high as he appeared in April at the PSA Masters in Egypt. Looking fast and fit, Power, not always known for his training discipline, confirmed that he had lost about 15 pounds in his training for the event. He is on a roll now, having won three of the last six major tour stop.

"They'll all be gunning for me." He said. "They're looking for a weak point that they can exploit. I will have a lot of pressure on me."

That's Jonathon - he likes to create the impression of vulnerability. It leaves the opposition guessing as to what's really going on. He also leaves the impression of not really being in training - but observe him go five games with Simon Parke - win or lose he's not' breathing hard.

POWER UNDER PRESSURE
Jonathon Power never seems to wilt under pressure. In fact he seems to thrive on chaos and like to generate confusion on court, both with his deception and shot selection and also with his frequent discourses with the referees. In Boston last fall, he told the crowd to shut up. He also explained a few of the finer points of the rules to the referee. The next moment he was smiling and talking to a spectator between games - that's Jonathon.

He's been called The John McEnroe of squash - and deservedly so. He creates controversy, engages his opponent and the referee, and meanwhile is himself fully concentrating on the next point.

QUICKEST WRIST FROM THE NORTH
Jonathon Power brings three devastating weapons to the fray. The first is a powerful and quick wrist. Power can hold his racket up until the last moment, freezing even the strongest competitor in place until he flicks the ball with surprising power in a totally unexpected direction and trajectory. It's this wrist deception that brings fear to his opponents, to the extent that he takes away from them their own attacking game - his opponent is afraid of giving Jonathon that opportunity.

The second is incredible anticipation. Power's anticipation is at the level of a Hashim or Sharif Khan, letting him move to the ball unerringly, with no wasted motion, and giving him some amazing opportunities to volley the ball at point blank range.

The third is his thought process on court. Power delivers the unexpected. While many of his UK-taught opponents play in predictable patterns, Power counterpunches with much broader variety. His enterprising tactics catch many of his opponents off guard. He will throw a "sitting-duck" serve right into the middle of the court, but it comes so unexpectedly that the opponent just lets it go by.

JONATHON FIGHTING INCONSISTENCY
If there is one indictment of Jonathon's game and career, it is his inconsistency. Jonathon, in his rivalry with Peter Nicol, has seen his fortunes go up and down. While Nicol travels with a whole support structure - including in particular his coach Neal Harvey, Power usually goes it alone; relying on his own internal motivation, and sometime the assistance of his friends and sparring partners, Graham Ryding and Anthony Hill.

JONATHON - ALWAYS REINVENTING HIMSELF
Jonathon seems to always seek the unexpected. As soon as his rivals think they have figured him out -- he goes back to the drawing board and emerges with a new approach. Peter Nicol has been vocal recently questioning Power's commitment to fitness -- so Jonathon emerges fitter than ever.

Power is entertaining, creative, outspoken a a crucial fulcrum point for the increasing interest in squash in North America.

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