The Reinvented Jonathon Power
By Ron Beck
May 13, 2005 All content © 2004 Squashtalk
[last update was 15-may-05 ]

Jonathon Power Gives Everyone a Lesson

Jonathon Power keeps introducing new tactics against familiar foes such as David Palmer. (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

Jonathon Power is what the game of squash needs right now — skill, excitement, drama, showmanship, charisma, and yes, extreme mental toughness.

I am happy to report, after having watched Power in action at several events this spring, that Jonathon Power is back, reinvented, better than ever, confounding the critics.

He won the last two events - Bermuda Masters and Superseries Finals - in convincing fashion and in between collected his sixth Canadian National title. In the process he defeated almost every player ranked ahead of him, including #1 Thierry Lincou, #2 Lee Beachill, #3 Peter Nicol, as well as David Palmer and Amr Shabana.

About a year ago this time Power was struggling to recover from a constant stream of injuries, and the critics (most of them from England) were quick to predict his final demise from elite PSA tournament contention.

In fact, the predictions of Jonathon Power's demise have dated back to the turn of the century, the beginning of 2000. In a now infamous issue of Squash Player magazine, a number of "squash pundits," (all of them from England) were asked to predict the PSA men's pro top ten in one, two and five years from now. To a man, they all predicted that Jonathon Power would be dropping out of the top ten almost immediately. How wrong history has shown those predictions to be!

What Jonathon Power's opponents have known for some time, and what most of the squash observers fail to fully grasp is the extent of Jonathon Power's (a) mental toughness on the court, (b) ability to analyze individual opponents and return several events later with a new strategy for that troublesome opponent, and (c) determination to constantly question his own approaches, try new things, and pursue new ways to achieve superiority in the squash world.

When Jonathon Power said this week that his goal is to "one more time reach number one," his opponent's better take notice because he probably has a good plan to achieve that.

When Power and Amr Shabana meet up, expect a lot of fireworks, exciting all-court attack, and clean play. (photo © 2005 David Barry)

Jonathon's approach to the Superseries Finals this week is a telling exhibit. First, Jonathon arrived in the company of his wife Sita. In a tournament setting where Jonathon has always felt somewhat uncomfortable, namely England, Sita clearly provided him a good anchor point and emotional boost. Second, Jonathon showed impressive mental toughness. In the matches where he needed to be at his best - in the semis against David Palmer and in the finals against Thierry Lincou - Power was totally focused, completely patient in his shot selection, active in his discussions with the referee but never out of control, and a showman in the best sense of the word, which unpredictabley got him the strong support of the London crowd. Third, Jonathon was physically and mentally ready to "suck it up," as he phrased it.

Jonathon Power is looking trim, fit and mentally sharp. (photo © 2005 David Barry)

On semi finals day, Jonathon arrived at the Broadgate arena with his ankle taped up. His shoes had broken the day before and he had consequently had a slight ankle twist. He was forced to played with a brand new pair of shoes, of a brand he had never used before (Yyonex badminton shoes). Always thinking, Power informed us that he had selected badminton shoes because they are softer than squash shoes, and he didn't have time to break them in, so he decided on the softer shoes.

As it turned out, he was exceedingly sure-footed in the event-filled contest with David Palmer that took both players to all corners of the court on a constant basis.

On finals day, Jonathon arrived at the Broadgate arena not sure whether he could play at all.

"I can't believe he's out there at all," his wife Sita told me before the match. "He woke up and said he couldn't move and couldn't possibly play." (because of a knee strain suffered in his match with Palmer) But after spending all day getting his knee checked by a physio and a doctor, being assured that he was unlikely to create further injury, and being expertly taped up and worked on, Power arrived at the arena ready to give it a whirl.

"It's my last event until Hong Kong in late August," Jonathon said, "So I decided, just suck it up and play your hardest. I just decided to go all out and see what happens."

There was nothing tentative about Jonathon's approach to his match with Lincou. In fact he was totally focused, totally sharp, and totally mobile.

A Jonathon Power who had been humbled by Lincou in a disastrous match at the US Open in September of 2003, then lost to him in the finals of the Canadian Classic in November of 2004, tonight turned things about and completely dominated him. Yes it's true that Lincou may have been somewhat tired from two long five game matches the prior two days in London, but Jonathon attacked Lincou with a new game plan, that had Lincou scrambling to retrieve a dizzying array of cross-angle shots that were offensive rather than defensive, and a constant but measured attack that forced Lincou to stretch and react to any open shots, especially Lincou's lobs to both the backhand and forehand that were volleyed by Power from almost impossible positions and frequently forced Lincou short.

The Jonathon Power, who the pundits (and some of his opponents) have written off several times, has come back from his injuries trimmer, with new training and nutritional habits, and smarter about his tournament appearances. "I can't just play back to back." Jonathon has said recently. "My body just can't take that. I have to be careful about the intervals between appearances." He has also modified his tactics. Still immensely dangerous up front and from almost anywhere in the court, he is now more patient about his shotmaking, and selective about which shots to barrage which opponents with.

And the Power who many had written off as losing interest, has shown he has far from lost interest and may be tougher and more durable than some of his rivals. "I've been in squash since I've been a kid." He commented recently. "It's in my blood. I'm going to stay in the game." PSA rivals take note: Jonathon is not done with the tournament circuit. He has a few things to prove, especially whether his body will allow him to finish another run back to #1. With a good three month break before the next major ranking event, don't sell him short!

Power got the crowd on his side, even at the tensest moments of his Superseries contest with David Palmer. (photo © 2005 Fritz Borchert)

And his court demeanor has to also be mentioned. Power, who while never rude on court, was in the past viewed as a complainer. But Power has polished his act, and while still ready to stand up for his views with on-court discussion, he's now more likely than not to get the crowd on his side, while he appeals for his point of view with a touch of humor, displays a softer edge, and argues his point with a strong measure of positive showmanship. In their current reinvention, his animation and commentary are lively and good for the game.

And Jonathon has shown himself to be ready to contribute a lot more to the game. The new instructional DVD he's put out is more thorough and thoughtful than most similar efforts. And the camps he has just started to get serious about at Dartmouth College are a genuine and committed effort.

Special Offer! Get the SuperSeries Videos 2003, 02, 00 produced by Jean De Lierre including the great '03 Nicol-Power match.