2005 ST LOUIS OPEN
	Reports Draw/Results Qualifier 1, 1 Qualifer 1, 2 Qualifier day 2 Qualifier final Round 1 Quarters Semis Final Preview Photos: venue photos qual day 1 qual day 2 1st round quarters 1 quarters 2 semi 1 semi 2 final PSA Profiles

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

FINAL FROM ST LOUIS

The 2005 St. Louis Open champion, Amr Shabana. more final photos (Photo ©2005 Debra Tessier)

The St. Louis squash community turned out in force tonight, including the "Khan brothers," Charlie and Sam, and together with a crowd of fascinated bystanders, convinced specators, and squash diehards, the Galleria Mall was packed to the gills for the 2005 St. Louis Open finals.

The charismatic Egyptian, Amr Shabana, outclassed the gritty Australian, Anthony Ricketts in straight games at the Galleria Mall in St Louis Missouri.

After a tense and close first game that went to a tiebreaker, the momentum and confidence was all Shabana's.

Both players were moving in close quarters and the ensuing appeals for strokes resulted in many discussions with the referee, Michael Puertas.

Both Shabana and Ricketts have in the past had bouts with self-destructive debating sessions with the refereeing corps. This time around, Shabana kept his focus, but Ricketts seemed to lose his concentration.

Then, during the second game Ricketts called an injury break to have his knee looked at. Whatever the state of Rickett's knee and his mental focus, Shabana was to all appearances going to be unstoppable tonight, as he looked very much the player controlling the play and the tempo. He raced home to a straight game victory, at one point leading 7-1 in the final game before closing out a 56 minute final.

FINAL St Louis MPM Open

[7] Amr Shabana def [6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 11-10(2-0) 11-8 11-7

[more final photos]

Along with the soldout crowd, every railing on both floors with a court view was lined with fans--a truly impressive turnout. (Photo ©2005 Debra Tessier)