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2000 EVENT

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Super Series Final: The Finals

PETER DOES IT AGAIN

by Martin Bronstein, London, 22 June 2001
All content © 2001 Squashtalk, photos: © 2001 Fritz Borchert, Gary Sherman

NICOL GETS HIS SUPER SERIES HAT-TRICK

Proving once more that his mental strength is his greatest asset, Peter Nicol defeated David Palmer 3/1 in a gripping 83 minute match that had the packed marquee following each shot and cheering at the end of each long rally with even longer cheers at the end of each game.

PALMER STARTS SLOWLY AGAIN

As in his match against Power in the semi-final, Palmer started slowly. In fact, as he revealed exclusively to Squashtalk, it was 50/50 whether he would start at all. He said his back was so battered from his Power encounter he wasn’t sure he could start the final. But a physio got stuck into his spine and he appeared on court. "I started slowly because I was just loosening up to see how I could play. These slow starts are becoming a habit so I’ve got to work on that," Palmer said.

NICOL STRAIGHT INTO OVERDRIVE

Nicol is the wrong guy to loosen up against and he took every advantage of Palmer’s sluggishness to work his way into an invulnerable 11-7 lead. It was all Nicol, drops and drives and fantastic retrievals that surely must have been psychologically damaging to Palmer who commented: "Nicol not only gets everything back, he hits an attacking shot from impossible positions." In this first game it seemed as though Palmer had to win every point twice. He couldn’t overcome the deficit or the Nicol all-court coverage and Nicol took the 17 minute game 15-7.

PALMER STARTS SHOOTING

Palmer started the second game in a more positive frame of mind, hit a disguised drop followed by a backhand drive and then a forehand drive and he was 3-0 ahead. Nicol stopped the run but then Palmer hit a forehand crosscourt slam into the dead nick to lead 4-2. But then suddenly it was all Nicol and he showed his full skill by taking the next seven points, his winners alternating with Palmer’s errors. Nicol surged to an 11-6 lead and then he called his own ball down to make it 11-7.

This was the spirit in which the match was played and referee Dean Clayton was called on for very few decisions. On three occasions Palmer played the ball when he could have held his shot and almost certainly been given the stroke; on at least six occasions, the players decided amicably on balls being up or down. This may not produce the heated drama of a Power match, but by golly, it showed the audience how the game is played at the highest level when two players allow the racquet to do the talking.

NEVER COUNT A DAVID OUT

The point about Palmer is that he is capable of incredible come-backs and he threatened another one at this point in the second game. He was now controlling the rallies and Nicol was made to do some very hard work. Suddenly Palmer was back in, trailing 11-12 when he hit a loose shot and Nicol was awarded the stroke. It could not have come at a worse time and Nicol then hit a strange slow overhead cross court which surprised Palmer who never got near the ball. Nicol made no mistake on game ball with a forehand clip boast that was a winner from the time it left his racquet. It was a 19 minute game that had almost everything. For a man with a bad back, Palmer wasn’t doing too badly.

FINISHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THIRD….NOT QUITE

Although Palmer again started with three winners, Nicol pulled back with a forehand crosscourt slam, then a lucky mishit, followed by a forehand drop, a forehand boast and another forehand drop. Palmer hardly moved for the last two shots and when Nicol hit a backwall nick, it seemed that the Gods were with the Englishman.

With Nicol leading 7-4 Palmer seemed to wilt and I really thought his tank was dry and he just wanted to get back to Australia. How wrong (again!) I was. He dug in, got back to 7-7, trailed 7-10 and then 8-13. Surely this was the end? Then Nicol’s forehand boast went down and it was 9-13; a patented Palmer slam into the nick and it was 10-13; a slammed backhand straight nick and it was 11-13. Palmer drove down the middle of the court and Nicol tried to chase it but Palmer was in the way. Nicol’s appeal for a let was denied (cruelly, I thought) and Palmer was back in at 12-13. He then hit a length shot that luckily hit the nick and it was a tied game.

I was by the this time on the edge of my seat along with the other 399 people. Nicol ended the next rally with a backhand drop into the tin, bringing forth a huge collective gasp. Palmer had game ball and the next rally was one of the most dramatic I have witnessed, the sort of condition where you daren’t breathe in case it affects your sight. Was it 20, 30 or 40 shots? I don’t know but each player saved the point several times until Palmer hit another of his slams into the nick. A huge roar from the spectators, a mixture of relief and admiration greeted this most decisive shot to end the 20 minute game.

COULD HE DO IT AGAIN

Palmer had come back from two down to win against Power. Could he do it again. The short answer was no, although he gave it everything he had starting off with backhand drive into the nick, suggesting he was going to keep firing on both six guns. They were point for point and Palmer, despite fatigue was still able to control long rallies, but it meant he had to win points twice..

Nicol, who admitted his fatigue later, was still picking up everything and sending it back with interest. They were level at 6-6, Nicol pulled away to 10-7, Palmer pulled back to 10-all with the help of two winners ( he hit 10 outright winners in this game alone) and then with another huge forehand slam into the nick, Palmer was serving for the game 14-13. Nicol hit a very tight forehand drive to send the game into extra points. Palmer went for three points but Nicol took the first two with winners and Palmer finished the evening with a a backhand drive into the tin. Another 20 minute game and another huge ovation.

"I was tired, but so was he," Nicol said. "He went for everything and it was coming off. I have been feeling less than fit but a good summer of training is the answer." "One match too many," Palmer said after revealing the extent of the bruising he got from Power yesterday. "I was struggling with my movement in the first two games, but everything kicked in in the third. But Nicol is so tough mentally. He hits winners from nowhere. But I’m happy with the season I’ve had, beaten the best. I’ll spend two months in Australia and when I get back I must learn to win quicker in the early rounds and be able to play five 5 setters in five days."

Final Results:

Peter Nicol def David Palmer
15-7,15-11,13-15,17-14 (83 mins)

Jonathon Power def Martin Heath
15-10, 15- 13
Third place play-off (best of 3 games)

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