SquashTalk > Qatar Classic 2001, Doha, Qatar >Semi final Report, Howard Harding

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AUSSIE DOUBLE BECKONS IN QATAR

by Howard Harding, Oct 7 2001, © 2001   [Sarah Fitz's Report]   [see Chris Walker's Notes and thoughts] (photos from QatarClassic Squash.)

An Australian double in Qatar beckons on the eve of the Melbourne International Squash Festival, with David Palmer and Sarah Fitz-Gerald both reaching the finals of the Qatar Classic in Doha.

World No1 Palmer needed four games to conquer compatriot Stewart Boswell and now faces England's former world No1 Peter Nicol in the final of the $140,000 men's event, while new world No1 Fitz-Gerald dismissed England's Stephanie Brind for the loss of just five points to set up a women's final clash with great rival Leilani Joyce, the New Zealander who previously topped the world list.

Top seed Palmer, the British Open champion and currently the game's most consistent player, beat Boswell 9-15, 15-10, 15-3, 15-13 in 67 minutes to reach his sixth PSA Tour final this year. "Boswell made it difficult for me to win today," said Palmer afterwards. "I had to hang in there. I thought it was the third game, which gave me the confidence to win this match."

World champion Peter Nicol beat John White of Scotland 15-13, 12-15, 15-7, 15-10 in 61 minutes to end the run of the hard-hitting former Australian who put out second seed Jonathon Power in the previous round. Nicol's victory over the player who succeeded him as Scottish No1 when he defected to England earlier this year, took him to his second final on the all-glass Doha court since reaching the World Open climax there in 1998 In the women's semi-finals, top seed Leilani Joyce braved a strong challenge from Cassie Campion of England to win 9-4 9-6 9-4 in 47 minutes and reach her fourth WISPA World Tour final this year.

"Cassie is an experienced player," said Joyce of the former world No1 who is fighting back after back surgery last year. "She doesn't allow that many easy points. I would say I had to earn my win," Joyce added.

Second seed Sarah Fitz-Gerald took just 21 minutes to defeat surprise semi-finalist Stephanie Brind 9-2 9-0 9-3 in the other women's semi-final. Victory over Joyce in the Qatar final would give the Australian her 9th WISPA title this year - but it was the New Zealander who won their most recent encounter, in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open in August.

RESULTS: Qatar Squash Classic, Doha

Men's semi-finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [9] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 9-15 15-10 15-3 15-13 (67m)
[3] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [6] John White (SCO) 15-13 12-15 15-7 15-10 (61m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Leilani Joyce (NZL) bt Cassie Campion (ENG) 9-4 9-6 9-4 (47m)
[2] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [5] Stephanie Brind (ENG) 9-2 9-0 9-3 (21m)

[Full draw]

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