Scottish Open 2001 - Squashtalk.com


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Scottish Open 2001 Reports Draw/Results Qualifiers 1st Round day 1 1st Round day 2 Quarters Semis Final Player Profiles	Peter Nicol ousts White; Stewart Boswell continues his surprising run.	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 June 30, 2001, Perth By Elspeth Burnside All content © 2001 Squashtalk, file photos: © 2001 Fritz Borchert, Debra Tessier It was a match between the adopted hero and the former hero. But while John White won the popularity stakes in the semi-final of the Scottish Open, it was Peter Nicol who won where it mattered most, on the court. It was three months ago that Nicol, on grounds of residency, defected from Scotland to England. But if he hoped that the Scottish squash public would quickly forgive and forget his decision to switch his allegiance to England and throw away a chance of possibly leading Scotland to victory in the world team championships later this year, then the crowd at Bell's Sports Centre in Perth. Before the start of his semi-final against White, who had won the Scottish National title in the same arena just six days earlier, the tournament MC, Robert Edwards, carried out a little market research. "Who are you going to cheer for?" he asked the audience. It was no contest, White won. Mind you, it is a little confusing. White is hardly your dyed in tartan Scot. He speaks with a broad Aussie accent - the country of his birth - and it was just three years ago that, having been left out of Australia's Commonwealth Games squad, he chose to please his Edinburgh-born father and play for Scotland. But it was Nicol, whose talents were crafted in Inverurie in Scotland, have been polished for the past ten years in London and are now set to represent the St George's Cross at next year's Commonwealth Games, who enjoyed the last laugh. As if to show his former adoring supporters what they have now lost, Nicol produced a perfect exhibition and wiped White off court in just 48 minutes, 15-9 15-8 15-12 to set up a final against the tournament's surprise package, Stewart Boswell. Boswell, a qualifier who had already beaten two seeds, Malaysia'a Ong Beng Hee, and Scotland's Martin Heath, continued his giant-killing run with a victory over fellow-Australian, Paul Price. Not that he won in the way he would have wished, as Price was forced to pull out in the deciding game after a recurrence of the hip and back injuries that have plagued his career. Boswell, after saving two game balls, sneaked the opening game 17-16, lost the next two 14-17 12-15 and then drew level 15-6. It was at the end of the fourth game that Price called for a time out through injury. He did struggle back on to court, but, noticeably limping, he had to concede at 1-9 down. "Paul has had a lot of injuries and this was maybe just one match too many," said Boswell, the world no 15. "But I'm delighted to get through to the final. It will obviously be a very hard match against Peter, but it will be another big challenge." White, who had won the Scottish National title for a second time in the same arena last Sunday, started promisingly against Nicol, taking the first two points of the opening game. But Nicol hit back to take the next seven without reply and set the tone for what was, in the most part, a one-sided affair. There was a brief moment, when White moved 11-9 ahead in the third, that there was the prospect of the match at least being extended to another game. But a sting of four unforced errors allowed Nicol to reach match ball, and he took it on the second time of asking. Afterwards, Scotland's former hero was obviously hurt at the numbers that had signed up to the 'c'mon John' brigade. "But whatever," he shrugged. "I suppose I expected it, but it just made me even more determined. I was really happy to get through 3-0 and I feel I am almost playing my very best." Results: Semi-finals: P Nicol (England) beat J White (Scotland) 15-9 15-8 15-12; S Boswell (Australia) beat P Price (Australia) 17-16 14-17 12-15 15-6 9-1 rtd. [Semi-final press report] [Quarters report] [Day two report] [see tournament draw page]

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