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Lefty Barker Breaks Through
By Ron Beck
© 2004 Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.

Simon Parke Subdues Paul Price

Sept 16 2004, Boston MA -

While the best squash of the evening took place in the match between two former top five players, Simon Parke and Paul Price, the story of the evening was most definitely the strong lefty Peter Barker who left the valiant Finn, Olli Tuominen, out of ideas by midway through their third game.

Dan Jenson, also a former world top ten player, made quick work of a weary Joey Barrington and Renan Lavigne had too much firepower for Shahier Razik.

And with the names taken out of a hat at the end of the evening, Simon Parke, who last month went from a qualifying berth to English Open finalist, has become a very dangerous opponent indeed for Thierry Lincou in the first round.

LEFT HANDED POWER
Peter Barker, making his first appearance in Boston, was very impressive against the all around game of Olli Tuominen. Tuominen, sporting a new short haircut, couldn't handle the pace and precision brought oncourt by Barker. Too, Tuominen spent alltogether too much time playing to the lefthanded Barker's forehand. Barker's forehand, which was devastating both both up short and to length, got plenty of work as Tuominen appeared content to defend against it with backhand drives.

But that wasn't the entire story. Peter Barker, decked out in the all-black of e-Squash and i-Squash, was just a bit quicker, faster and more aggressive than Tuominen who appeared to spend much of his match back on his heels. And in most of the lengthy rallies, it was Tuominen who offered up the unforced errors to end the play.

MEDIUM PACED WALTZ
We weren't at Symphony Hall yet, but don't tell Shahier Razik. Razik and Renan Lavigne crafted a slow-speed waltz at the Harvard Murr Center. But when the music stopped playing, it was Razik who didn't hav a chair. Razik's feather-light and medium paced approach at first seemed that it would be effective against Lavigne. In fact, Razik lulled Lavigne into playing his game, and Razik plays the placement game better, as he pulled in the first game 11-9.

Lavigne made the big adjustment coming into the second game, and when he stepped up the pace and moved forward in the court, he began putting too much pressure on Razik. By that point, the two player's games still appeared deceptively similar. But they weren't. Lavigne was playing a pressure game, evident especially on his forehand volley's, of which there were many. Razik was still trying to slow the pace down. But it wasn't working, it didn't work, and Lavigne gradually pulled away, leaving Razik with no answers and no energy by midway through the fourth game.

BIG GUNS AT HARVARD
The matchup everying was looking forward to was definitely Simon Parke versus Paul Price. And the intensity and level of play was fully that of a main round match not a qualifier.

The stakes were exceeding high for both players, each a former top five player, and each very serious about making the main draw. There was barely a wasted point, with tight play, long rallies, interesting tactics and increasingly verbal byplay, all features of the match throughout.

The match started out with Parke's retrieving and length against Price's sharp attacking and use of all four corners of the court. It seemed for a long period of the match that Price would prevail. His shotmaking was effective, he was patient, and he forced Parke to expend a lot of energy.

But Parke can still retrieve almost everything. He still has to be the best retriever in the game, and he made some phenomenal gets as well as some sparkling recovery shots, that hopefully were an educational experience to the many young aspiring players in the audience. But all that running was taking a toll.

In fact, midway through the second game, it seemed that Parke, who last month made it to the English Open finals, might be running out of juice.

The turning point came partway through the second game, when Price began arguing and discussing referee's decisions, giving Parke increasingly more time to rest. And at 7-7 in the second Price dove, demanded a let, and gave Parke more time to rest as the court was wiped dry. Parke took the second 11-8, and at that point, Parke called on all his match experience to both take control of the play and remain inscrutible as Price began to implode.

In the third, Price gave Parke a clue that Price's focus was wavering, as he attempted out of the blue two hardball reverse-corner shots (both hit the tin.). A sign that he's been playing doubles during his soujourn in Toronto? By the fourth game, Price was alternating dead winners with clear loses and the die was cast.

US Open Qualifying Finals: [complete qualifying draw]
Dan Jenson (AUS) def Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-7 11-3 11-9 (38 min)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) def Shahier Razik (CAN) 9-11 11-6 11-8 11-6 (56 min)
Peter Barker (ENG) def Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7 11-6 11-7
Simon Parke (ENG) def Paul Price (AUS) 9-11 11-8 11-4 11-7

[revised main draw]