Superseries:
Reports
Protagonists
Draw
History
Photos
Video Offer
Results
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Semis
Finals
2000 EVENT

Upcoming:
Hong Kong
US Open

Super Series Final: Day 1, Report 1

NICOL’S WINNING START

by Martin Bronstein, London, 18 June 2001
All content © 2001 Squashtalk, photos: © 2001 Fritz Borchert

NICOL’S WINNING START

Going for a hat-trick of Super Series Final wins, Peter Nicol got off to a fairly straightforward start in the Halifax Equitable Super Series Finals in London. Because of four victories in the Super Series events last year, Nicol is number one seed here and looks on form to take the $19,500 first prize. He certainly was never seriously challenged by Paul Johnson, the number five seed, and played basic, percentage squash to take the first match of this year’s tournament.

There were two contributing factors to the Nicol’s 3/1 win; his superb length, and Johnson’s reluctance to volley. It’s always nice to see two left-handers confusing each other (they are so used to playing right-handers) but Nicol’s forehand cross court was as near perfect as you will see, always hitting within inches of the nick at the back of the right hand service box. When it didn’t nick it always presented Johnson with a difficult reply.

For his part Johnson simply will not volley a ball even when it comes at knee height on his forehand side. He insists on taking the ball off the back wall, giving his opponent ample time to regroup at the T. This can make for some pretty unexciting squash with someone like Nicol who is also not an attacking player. Nicol is better at this type of squash than anyone and duly won the first two games 15-6, 15-11.

A VOLLEY, A VOLLEY, RAH , RAH, RAH

Strangely enough Johnson came out for the third and hit four winners, two volleys, a forehand straight nick followed by an overhead smash into the nick. He kept forcing to induce some errors from Nicol and suddenly he led 8-4. Now the back wall was not seeing so much action and Nicol hit a few winners to get back to 7-8. Johnson was now confident he could win this game, and hit a very assertive forehand straight nick to get back on track again, playing with enough authority to allow Nicol only one more point – and that on a stroke – to win 15-8. Nicol looked very tired which must really pose questions about his overall fitness after his British Open showing.

JOHNSON’S GIFT

In a complete contradiction to expectations, it was Johnson who started the fourth game as though fatigued, giving away three easy points. From 6-4 Nicol just cruised away to win it 15-5 as Johnson barely contested the last six points. This was an anticlimactic end to a match that promised so much after three games. It is fairly certain that the other two members of the Fleet Group, Australian David Palmer and Welshman David Evans, will not give Nicol such an easy ride.

[For Day 1, Report 2]

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