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Kneipp on Fire -- Jenson's a Threat
By Ron Beck
© 2004 Squashtalk, all rights of reproduction reserved.

Peter Nicol, David Palmer advance

Sept 19 2004, Symphony Hall, Boston MA

DAN JENSON MAKES HIS POINT - HE'S BACK
It was a brisk Sunday afternoon in Boston, but inside Symphony Hall, where the ventilation of the sort required for a sporting event is wholly nonexistent, the heat of the court and the heat of the lights turned the tournament court into a sweatbox of sorts.

Palmer and Jenson matched each other, attack for attack. (photo © 2004 Stephen Line) by arrangement with squashmagazine.com

The taller the player, the higher the center of gravity, the more issues with sweat on the court. So the match between the two Aussies, David Palmer, former world #1, and working to regain that position, and Dan Jenson, former world #5, and struggling to reestablish himself, was marked by substantial slippage on the court, which did affect the play between two big guys, both of whom rely on hesitation shots to deceive the opponent.

Dan Jenson showed the Sunday Matinee audience that he didn't reach this point by accident, it wasn't a bad day from John White (an opinion I heard voiced in the lounge) that got him here, it was solid, courageous and, at times, explosive play.

This match had several distinct phases and momentum shifts. The match started out in Palmer's favor, with Dan Jenson trying to establish pace, a pattern of attack, and to put pressure on Palmer's offensive arsenal. But Palmer was up to the task, sharp and attentive, and just strong enough to build an effortless 8-4 lead in the first game.

Palmer kept his cool, even at moments of refereeing uncertainty. (photo © 2004 Stephen Line) by arrangement with squashmagazine.com

Then Jenson showed the audience what had gotten him to #5 in the world in 1997 and 1998. He reeled off a series of winning rallies, each punctuated by an attacking shot just sharp and deceptive enough to keep Palmer away from the ball. Just like that it was 8-8 in the first.

Jenson showed off a few attacking weapons that are beyond the scope of virtually all his colleagues on these courts this week here in Boston. In particular, Jenson displayed the capability to stretch to reach a fine, low, tight, slow drop made by Palmer to the forehand corner, and to counter that with a drive of such velocity that it was impossible for the lanky and quick Palmer to even come close to it.

And some volley-kills and accurate attacking boasts that kept Palmer off balance and wary.

But after Jenson had surprised Palmer in the first game, it was a completely focused and alert Palmer who came out for the second and third games, stepping up his pace, his movement, and the daring nature of his attacking drives and drops.

But though the scores of the second and third (11-16 and 11-3) were strongly in Palmer's favor, the rallies were quite evenly played and Jenson just missed a few attacking shots he was making against White and in the first game against Palmer, just giving David Palmer that little edge he needed.

Then in the fourth, Jenson charged back. It that explosiveness that he brings that's so exciting. You feel that at any moment he can produce as many points in a row as he needs. And he matched Palmer step for step in the fourth. And it was part way through the fourth that the sweat really started to come into play, affecting a few critical points. And at this point, to the credit of the players, a few critical points of indecision by the referee ("Hello!" Palmer said, at 9-9 in the fourth, as the players waited for the referee to call out the score, "are you awake?") created a minimum of fuss. It was Palmer who came out with the last few point, though it could as well have been Jenson.

"I felt that I was just about a half step to slow today," Jenson told SquashTalk. "I will need some more matches under my belt with these top guys to get used to that higher level of play again." he said, not dissatisfied with his day. "I'm happy with how it's going and will stick with it." Jenson's next stop will be the Motor City Open in Detroit in several weeks time.

Jenson also showed his class off-court, as he patiently signed autographs for dozens of youngsters - posters, programs, shirts, sweatbands, racquets, you name it Jenson signed them, moments after coming off court disappointed, but smiling for the kids who stood in line.

KNEIPP ON FIRE
Joe Kneipp last appearance in Boston, was in a court tennis game in Boston last summer, in which the Tennis and Racquet Club caught fire while he shaved (see article). Today it was Kneipp who was on fire, as he played his second successive flaw-free match, out pointing, out retrieving, and outlasting Simon Parke.

Simon Parke was on the case but Joe Kneipp was sharper. (photo © 2004 Stephen Line) by arrangement with squashmagazine.com

Both Simon Parke and Joe Kneipp came into this quarterfinal match with strong momentum. Parke reached the finals of the English Open last month and played a great match in getting past Thierry Lincou in the first round. While Joe Kneipp played a strong first round match against the dangerous Omar El Bolorossy in the first round.

Parke prides himself on being able to retrieve everything, and his offensive game is mainly dependent on forcing the loose ball that he can drop or the loose lob that he can volley to length or boast.

Joe Kneipp has the raw athletic capability to match Parke's running and the ability to create the unexpected on court to interrupt Parke's desire to create patterns on the court.

Simply put, Kneipp's all-out deceptive and creative attack kept Parke from being able to establish any offensive patterns. But Parke was playing very well, and the real key to the match was Joe Kneipp's ability to maintain the patience that he would need to contend with Parke's relentless retrieving and steady play.

I'm not sure when the last time that Kneipp and Parke played was, but it hasn't been recently or frequently. And I believe that Simon Parke was faced with some surprise at Joe Kneipp's resourceful arsenal of weapons. Kneipp came out of the box sending a message to Parke as to his plans for the match. And in a series of long but varied points, emerged with an initial 6-1 lead in the first game.

Parke dug in, dug out various Kneipp apparent winners, and worked his way back to 3-6. In the new scoring system, the point that ensued at 3-6 immediately signalled as it developed that it was going to be a crucial point to establish momentum in the match. Both players understood this and it was a long and punishing point. Kneipp won it after some 30 shots, with a backhand drop nick beyond even Parke's reach.

Joe Kneipp showed throughout the match the complete confidence in his shotmaking which kept Parke guessing. He also showed some phenomenal racquet control. Including one shot that iced the first game, and instinctive backhand volley drop after Parke had caught him in the front of the court that gave him an insurmountable 10-4 lead in the first.

EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST
But no matter how entertaining and interesting the first game was, game two was better. This was a brilliant battle between two experienced warriers. From the beginning the level of play was raised. Parke was after every attacking shot Kneipp made, Kneipp was answering with even more creative attacks. But again, the key was Kneipp's ability to be patient enough not to force unwise shots.

Joe Kneipp celebrates the point that gives him a 10-8 lead, and match ball in the third. (photo © 2004 Stephen Line) by arrangement with squashmagazine.com

There were some attacking battles down the forehand. The glass court was susceptible to winners made by drives to the back corner. Both players were looking for the opportunity for that drive to the corner. They were trying to set them up with the pinpoint drops. Both players were defending the drops with well place drives or lobs. There were defensive battles down the backhand.

In the second, the score reached 6-6. At this point, it seemed that if Parke could eke out the second game, he would have a good chance of breaking Kneipp. Kneipp seemed to know this as well, so they were both going all out to earn the second.

After all the long rallies, Kneipp got a crosscourt volley kill off of Parke's serve to take a 7-6 lead. Then ensued a great point, in which Parke retreived several downright winners from Kneipp, and Joe returned the favor. This point ended also on a crosscourt volley nick winner to Kneipp.

At 9-7, there was an even more phenomenal point. There were at least fifty shots, all over the court. Joe seemed to have won the point at least four times. Parke kept retrieving the balls and recovering his position. Finally, Joe won the point with a dead nick. 10-7. But Parke wasn't done. He won the next two points, but Kneipp's soft volley to the back at 10-9 gave him the all-important 2-0 lead.

EVEN MORE
But Parke wasn't done yet. Remember, yesterday he had come back from 0-2 against Lincou. Today he took a 5-1 lead in the third and was looking good.

Joe Kneipp at this point showed the discipline and patience he would never have exhibited this time last year. "Last year, in the third game, I would have tried to many winners too fast. I would have thrown the game away. But not now." he told SquashTalk after the match. At 4-6 Kneipp's game turned explosive. He parlayed several quick kills to and 8-6 lead, a 9-8 lead, and finally the 11-8 win.

ALL FOUR WERE GOOD MATCHES

Peter Nicol kept Nick Matthew guessing. (photo © 2004 Stephen Line) by arrangement with squashmagazine.com

And all of the above isn't to minimize the quality of the other two matches. It was a dream day for organizer John Nimick. A fine, fall afternoon in Boston, a big audience. Lots of kids on hand, lots of fans seeking autographs, and four quality matches with eight quality players.

Nick Matthew and Peter Nicol - the present and future of England were on first this afternoon. The sometimes vulnerable Peter Nicol was simply just good enough to win today. Nick Matthew played excellent but not inspired squash. Peter Nicol knew just what to do to keep Matthew hamstrung. And Nicol strung together enough of those uniquely Peter Nicol points, where you don't know exactly what it is he is doing, but he is managing to reach everything, even play the ball from on the floor or on his back, and keep his opponent from doing damage. Nicol kept Matthew from smelling any possible weak point or vulnerability, and took a strong four game win.

And Lee Beachill made it look easy against Graham Ryding. Beachill simply always played the right percentage shot, cut off the angles, and kept Ryding out of his offensive zone. So that finally, and especially in the third game, Ryding, as he does sometimes, beganning pressing too much and hitting the tin.

US Open Squash 2004
Quarterfinals, Sunday at Symphony Hall: [complete draw]

Peter Nicol (ENG)(1) def Nick Matthew (ENG)(7) 11-7; 11-5; 3-11; 11-8 (43 mins.)
Lee Beachill (ENG, 2) def Graham Ryding (CAN) 11-6; 11-6; 7-11; 11-7 (40 mins.)
David Palmer (AUS)(4) def Dan Jenson (AUS)(Q) 9-11; 11-6; 11-3; 11-8 (45 mins.)
Joseph Kneipp (AUS)(8) Simon Parke (ENG) 11-4; 11-9; 11-8 (42 mins.)