Qatar Classic 2003

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December 3, 2003, ©2003, SquashTalk

Nicol and Palmer Fall Fast     [Mens results]   [womens results]

In a dramatic quarter-final day in the richest squash event of the year, Peter Nicol and David Palmer, ranked one and three in the world, respectively, crashed out of the Qatar Classic at the Khalifa Squash Complex in Doha. The two players contested the PSA Super Series Platinum event's final both in 2001 and 2002.

It was England's unseeded Nick Matthew that bravely fought back from a game down to topple Palmer 11-15 17-16 15-12 15-8 in 72 minutes to mark the best victory of his career.

The 23-year-old world No21 from Sheffield in Yorkshire has enjoyed a spectacular upturn in his short career this year, reaching the quarter-finals of both the English and US Opens against the seedings, then being selected to represent England for the first time in the World Team Championships in October. His victory over Canada's world No5 Jonathon Power in the first round in Doha led to his first appearance in a PSA Super Series quarter-final.

Matthew now meets England team-mate and fellow Yorkshireman Lee Beachill, who avenged three losses in his last four PSA Tour events to crush his Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning partner Peter Nicol, winner of the Qatar title for the past two years, 15-11 15-10 15-7 in just 40 minutes.

The other men's semi-final will feature Scotland's No2 seed John White and fourth-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou. White beat Egypt's Omar Elborolossy 15-12 15-9 15-9 while Lincou defeated England's Adrian Grant 15-11 15-9 15-6 to reach his eighth successive PSA semi-final.

The women's semi-finals will feature the top four seeds, with USA's No2 seed Natalie Grainger ending unseeded Frenchwoman Isabelle Stoehr's brave run 9-4 9-7 0-9 9-2 in 40 minutes. Stoehr beat two seeds, including world No6 Linda Charman, to reach the last eight, and said afterwards: "I've been waiting for a long time for some good wins and this week will give me a lot of confidence. My head needed this."

Grainger will now meet Cassie Jackman, the Englishwoman who has succeeded her as world No2. Jackman, the fourth seed, beat Australia's 7th seed Natalie Grinham 10-8 7-9 9-5 9-2 in 56 minutes - and then revealed that she had been suffering back stiffness the day before: "I was stiff yesterday but my movement was better today. I knew I would be in a match and would need to play well against Natalie," said the former world champion from Norfolk.

The other semi-final will give New Zealand's world No1 Carol Owens the chance to avenge her shock defeat by Australia's Rachael Grinham in October's British Open semi-finals. Top seed Owens despatched England's Fiona Geaves 9-4 9-0 9-3 in 27 minutes, while the older Grinham sister needed 60 minutes to overcome seven-times Dutch champion Vanessa Atkinson, the sixth seed, 7-9 9-6 9-0 6-9 9-3.

Owens said after her match against Geaves, the 13th seed who celebrates her 36th birthday on Saturday: "I knew I had to keep a good length to prevent her getting to the front where she is so dangerous. Now I'm looking for British Open revenge against Rachael!"

RESULTS: Qatar Squash Classic, Doha, Qatar

Men's quarter-finals:
[9] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [1] Peter Nicol (ENG) 15-11, 15-10, 15-7 (40m)
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-15, 17-16, 15-12, 15-8 (72m)
[4] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 15-11, 15-9, 15-6 (52m)
[2] John White (SCO) bt Omar Elborolossy (EGY) 15-12, 15-9, 15-9 (38m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Carol Owens (NZL) bt [13] Fiona Geaves (ENG) 9-4, 9-0, 9-3 (27m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [6] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 7-9, 9-6, 9-0, 6-9, 9-3 (60m)
[4] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [7] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 10-8, 7-9, 9-5, 9-2 (56m)
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 9-4, 9-7, 0-9, 9-2 (40m)

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