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US Open Quarterfinals - Afternoon Session
By Martin Bronstein from Symphony Hall Boston
© 2003 Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.

SQUASHTALK TODAY

 
www.princesquash.com

 

 

Graham Ryding Fights Cramps Against Nicol
Sept 14 2003, Boston Symphony Hall, Boston Mass

NICOL ESCAPES OVER THE BRIDGE OF THIGHS

Graham Ryding (front) tests Peter Nicol. (photo: ©2003, Debra Tessier)
There was further proof today that either Peter Nicol is in slow decline or he has some sort of injury problem. He lost the first two games to Graham Ryding, a player he can normally steam through. As Ryding, playing some of his best squash ever, took the game to Nicol and went short at every opportunity, Nicol became noticeably slower in moving to pick up Ryding’s drops and inch-perfect boasts.

Nicol no longer wears that asbestos air of confidence and annoyance shows easily. He probably felt injured at having Ryding test him so thoroughly all over the court, but he still managed to forge ahead from 8-all to lead 13-10, a point at which few people can beat Nicol. But Ryding hit a golden streak to take the next five points after 20 minutes and Nicol left the court with a definite droop in his shoulders.

A SOLOMON OF A REFEREE – UNFAIR TO BOTH PLAYERS
Encouraged by the first game, Ryding came out full of brio, believing that he could beat Nicol and ran off to an 8-3 lead, taking Nicol to the front and winning most of his points in the front of the court. Nicol by now was missing shots, his timing seemed off and he was tired. Nicol, however, does not give up- and even at 6-11 down when Ryding threatened to run away with the game, Nicol dug in forced errors from Ryding and hung in all the way to 14-all when Ryding called No let.

Sudden death.

(photo: ©2003, Debra Tessier)
The rally ended with Ryding calling a let on a situation that was a stroke. The referee bottled out and gave a let . Play resume and stopped with Nicol asking for a let in a similar situation. Again the referee called Let; had he given the stroke there would have a minor revolution. So the game continued with both players feeling aggrieved, which I suppose is one version of good justice. Nicol ended the game with a volley drop into the tin, Ryding threw up his arms and he left the court two games up.

IT’S NOT IN THE HEAD, IT’S IN THE THIGHS
The ‘tired’ Nicol took the next game 15-8 in eight minutes and the fourth 15-6 in the same time. If Ryding was trying to save his energy for the fifth, he failed as Nicol waltzed through the decider in nine minutes to produce a huge anticlimax. He left the court visibly relieved and Ryding told Squashtalk that after two qualifying matches and his upset over Darwish yesterday he was feeling it in his legs and his thighs were tightening up preventing his normal movement. Nicol is through to the semis – and mightily relieved.