St Louis MO PSA Squash 2005

[The St Louis Open Main Draw] [Saturday Report]

QUARTERFINALS FROM ST LOUIS

With a number of exciting matchups, quarterfinal play began amidst fan excitement and anticipation. Two highly awaited contests, however, the Palmer-Shabana showdown and the Nicol-Power event, proved inexplicably one sided, while the Ricketts - Anjema match, pitting an estabished elite pro against an upstart qualifier, and the Willstrop - Lincou marathon, provided the fireworks that the other two contest lacked.

SHABANA BY A NOSE
Amr Shabana arrived in St. Louis fresh off of a rousing win over Egyptian rival, Karim Darwish, in the Heliopolis Open.

Shabana raced past his first round opponent, making very quick work of Graham Ryding on Saturday. Today, he continued in the same vein, staying on the offense continually against big David Palmer.

The first game was the longest, closest and most competitive. Shabana showed early flashes of his electrifying offense and was moving quickly to all of Palmer's balls. The key here was that he kept Palmer moving about, kept Palmer working. Because as the match went on, David Palmer's sometimes balky back began to give him significant trouble.

Shabana was ahead game ball, at 10-9 in the first game when the flash got too flashy, and three straight dramatic tins gave game one to David Palmer.

But that was all the glory that Antwerp-based Palmer would get today. Shabana continued with his shotmaking, being more and more successful at taking the initiative. After game three, David Palmer had his back worked on. Whether Shabana observed that or not, he pounced on it in game four, taking an immediate advantage.

When Shabana inadvertently hit Palmer in the bridge of the nose with his racquet, causing an injury time out, Palmer was seen having his back attended to as much as his nose during the break. When they returned, Palmer was unable to gain any ground.

Shabana won going away, surrentdering only 13 points in the final two games.

RICKETTS EARNS HIS WIN.
Laurens Jan Anjema, who has attracted a good St. Louis following with his successive wins over Eric Galvez and Lee Beachill, was every bit the equal of Anthony Ricketts today. This battle of powerful attacking squash could have tipped either way.

Ricketts came away with a long and enervating game one 14-12. With many close points, Anjema had his opportunities to take the opener. Game two went Anjema's way 11-9. That game also could have gone either way. And similarly game three, which went into Rickett's column 11-9. In the fourth Rickett imposed his determination, will and fitness, and finished this close contest out 11-5.

POWER IN A WALK

Jonathon Power and Peter Nicol produced another date in their storied rivalry. This chapter, however, was hardly up to the drama and excitement that their long rivalry almost always produces.

Jonathon Power dominated Peter Nicol to win in 3.
(Photo ©2005 Debra Tessier)

Tonight, Jonathon Power was almost totally perfect while Peter Nicol gave the strange feeling of not wanting to be there. Both stars have revamped and revised their games leading into this season. Power ended last spring's campaign almost totally dominant over the rest of the tour, culminating with his startling victory in the Superseries Final in May, while Nicol started this campaign with strong wins in the World Games (non ranking) and the English Open.

Power, who took his time launching the fall campaign - this being his first event - came out onto the PSA stage with a vengeance. He was sharp and on target, on the attack, with his attacking short game unassailable by archrival Nicol. Nicol, in contrast seemed amost apathetic in game one, and surrendered completely at 9-2 in the first game.

In the second and third, Nicol mounted a spirited attack, but Jonathon was more and more confident in his attacking game, and his quickness and pinpoint drops kept Nicol from getting any rhythm or momentum going. And Power took the lead in the long running rivalry, 22 wins to 21.

WILLSTROP WALLOPS LINCOU

The longest match of the evening was saved until last. The Thierry Lincou and James Willstrop matchup, with the smooth and steady world #1, against the dynamic and eager young English star, was a battle of mettle, of fitness, of focus and of attack versus steadiness.

Lincou, fit and steady, extended Willstrop again and again. But Willstrop kept coming back for more. By the fourth game, with Willstrop leading 2 games to 1, it appeared that Willstrop's court coverage and attack was going to succumb to Lincou's fitness and tactical control of the court. With Willstrop's in a position of rapidly diminishing reserves, he cannily began taking advantage of the breaks between points to maximize his recovery. But still, Lincou was able to recover from a 1-2 game deficit to even the score at two games apiece. As the fifth game began, Willstrop came out with renewed energy, the match became extremely physical, and the referee, David Palmer who had lost earlier in the evening, was put in the position of having to make a number of crucial decisions for his fellow competitors.

Willstrop maintained the advantage throughout the fifth, staying one or two points clear at all times, and the final result, a long five game victory for the underdog Willstrop, becomes an important breakthrough win for him on the tour, setting up a fascinating showdown between the electric Shabana and the fit and tactical Willstrop.

St Louis MPM Open, Quarterfinals, Sunday Sept 18 2005:

[7] Amr Shabana (EGY) def [3] David Palmer (AUS) 10-11(0-2) 11-7 11-5 11-8
[8] James Willstrop (ENG) def [1] Thierry Lincou (AUS) 9-11 11-9 11-8 7-11 11-7
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) def [5] Peter Nicol (ENG) 11-2 11-8 11-7
Anthony Ricketts (AUS) def [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NL) 11-10(4-2) 9-11 11-9 11-5

[St Louis Open Draw] [quarterfinal photogallery]

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