SuperSeries:

Reports
Draw/Results
Preview
Day One - I
Day One - II
Day Two
Day Three
Semis
Final
Photos- I
Photos- II

2002 EVENT
2001 EVENT
2000 EVENT
1999 EVENT
History
Video Offer

COLLEGE USA
Schedules
Team previews

DEPARTMENTS
Latest news
Tournament Calendar
Bronstein Global Gallery
Player of the month
Videos
History
Pakistan Squash
School Squash
Camp Index
Features Index
Player Profiles
Worldwide Clubs
Worldwide Links
Rankings
Jobs

More Good stuff:
About Squash
   Just starting
Books
Juniors Squash
Women's Squash
Regional Reports

Oldies beat the Boldies
By Martin Bronstein
May 15, 2003 All content © 2003 Squashtalk
[last update was 16-may-03 ]

Jonathon Power, the Canadian magician, is just the right side of 30, and gave a display of accuracy, deception and speed that was simply too much for the slow-starting Thierry Lincou of France who has made such strides in the last year to make the world number six spot his own.

Jonathon Power took control over Thierry Lincou, photo © 2003 Fritz Brochert for Squashtalk

REVENGE….OH, SUCH REVENGE!
Young Lincou had taken Power apart two months ago in the Tournament of Champions in New York, had reduced the Canadian to helplessness. Today Power was in better shape and his short game was working like a dream. He ended the very first rally with a backhand drop shot to the front left corner to take the first point; it was an omen of what to come: Power would hit winners and many of them would be in that very same corner of the court. And Lincou, as fast as he is, could do nothing about it.

Everything that Power wanted to do with the ball worked. Long drops from the back of the court, top spin boasts, disguised backhand cross-courts – everything was going his way – even three lucky nicks at the back of the court that left his opponent shaking his head in pure frustration.

In this sort of form, there are few people who can handle Power. Today, Lincou, who admitted later he was not fully focussed, was simply not up to the job. He is normally a slow starter and has made some historic comebacks from two games down, so it was no real surprise that Power took the first game in 13 minutes 15-7.

Lincou was a little more focussed in the second but now Power was in full flight and his racket became a magic wand – now you see the ball, now you don’t – and his fee had wings. Leading 12-6 in the second game, Lincou hit a trio of brilliant shots, sure winners you would think, but Power saved every one and then won the point with a drop shot.It brought a huge roar from the marquee, which for the first time was packed to every corner. It was psychologically damaging to Lincou, and it also showed that even with a huige lead, Power does not like losing points. Another example occurred at game ball 14-7. Power hit a delicate crosscourt drop which Lincou managed to pick up. The referee called 14-8. Power shook his head and then announced: “ A physics lesson. When a ball is glued to the wall, the only way you can volley it across the court is if it is carried. Physics 101.” Referee Jill Wood was in no mood for further education and stood by her decision. Lincou said “I don’t like physics,” served and then lost the point with backhand cross court into the tin. 15-8 in 14 minutes. Eight of Power’s points had come from backhand drop winners – a shot that was of like a licence to print money.

Lincou was in an enormous hole and even his diminutive Mother who sat watching really couldn’t believe he could turn it around. And so it transpired as Power floated his magical way through the third game as a dispirited Lincou found it impossible to increase his work rate. The third game was Power’s 15-7 to give him a berth in the final, the first time, strangely that this wonderful player has figured in the final of this event.

I asked him what the difference was between tonight and New York.

“I’m in better shape than I was in New York where I had had some hard games in the previous rounds. I think the pace was too fast for Thierry who likes a certain rhythm and I was not going to let him have that rhythm: I’d take him short and then deep. The other things is I am playing well, moving well and I was getting on to the ball early which helped my shots,” Power explained.

Lincou was honest to admit feeling tired. “Four hard matches in four days. And I was still feeling the effects of my match yesterday. But I just wasn’t focussed and Jonathon’s pace was too fast for me,” he said. But he has made the semis or finals of all his tournaments this year and will be looking for more major ranking points in Qatar next week.

RICKETTS RUES THE ERRORS OF HIS WAYS

Anthony Ricketts made too many errors against Peter Nicol, photo © 2003 Fritz Brochert for Squashtalk

Ricketts knew that Nicol had played three five-game matches and intended to keep the champion on court for as long as possible. Nicol won the first game but he needed 19 minutes to get the 15-ll results.

The match was really settled in the second game, and sadly by Rickett’s error count.

He was the equal of Nicol all over the court and kept pasting the ball to Nicol’s backhand which would finally produce opening for his winners. He lead the game to 8-5 and then committed four unforced errors in a row. Nicol hit a fast volley drop and now led 10-8. From having the game in his hands, Ricketts now had to play catch up which he did. At 11-all his forehand volley drop hit the tin. He then got level with a glorious overhead drop into the nick.. Another forehand volley drop hit the tin to give Nicol the lead 13-12. Nicol then hit a superb length drive which Ricketts was unable to return. Not only did he los the point but he got a conduct warning for racket abuse. Nicol had match ball and sewed it up a delicious wrong way drop shot.

Nicol started slowly in the third and then picked up the pace and increased his number of winners. Ricketts, who felt he had blown it, lost his determination and as his endeavour dropped Nicol’s range of winners increased. The game was over in 10 minutes – Ricketts not even trying on the last three points – 15-7 for Nicol’s only 3/0 win of the week.

A disconsolate Ricketts knew where he had gone wrong:

“I played well, but like so many of my matches, there are patches that are bad. Nicol doesn’t give you a thing – and I gave him too much. Too many errors."

And so the stage is set for another Nicol/Power meeting, their first ever in a Super Series final. And they are both very hungry…it is going to be one helluva match.

Jonathon Power (Can) bt Thierry Lincou (Fra) 15-7, 15-8, 15-7
Peter Nicol (Eng) bt Anthony Ricketts (Aus) 15-11, 15-12, 15-7