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Last updated 09/16/2002

Tuominen smothers Jenson, Quick impresses
[Qualifying Scores]

By Martin Bronstein in Boston

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FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING

JENSON FINAGLED BY FLYING FINN’S FINE FINISH
The pleasure of watching Dan Jenson and Olli Tuominen in the first round was being reminded again what fine squash players they and how they can both manage to play hard, competitive, skilful squash while still remaining Gentleman. They both abide by the referee’s decisions and Jenson is meticulous in calling double bounces. The pity was that Jenson is still nowhere near the player he was in 1999 when he was up to number five in the world and with all the talent to go right to the top before injuries wrecked his upward surge. He plays with assurance, a good squash brain and some crashing winners but is still short on fitness and consistency.

SPARE THE ROD?

On the other hand Tuominen is on a steady upward curve and has the sort of consistency that makes his opponent spit blood in trying to win a point. Olli gives nothing away and is as good at the front of the court as anybody. Ranked 16 the Finn proved the 20 odd places difference with a 3/0 win: on the strength of the showing today, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up in the quarters of the main draw.

From 5-5 in the first game, Tuominen played steadily to jump into a 11-6 lead at which point Jenson decided not to waste too much breathe trying to catch up and never got another point. During the break he had Rodney Martin in his corner while Paul Price, who pulled out with an ankle injury, was also on hand.
Jenson was more focussed for this game and the lead changed hands a couple of times before Tuominen led 10-7. There were some sizzling rallies with both players using all the corners and picking up the softest drops. Jenson kept his resolve, drew level and led 12-11 but his error rate was constant and became the deciding factor in giving Tuominen his second game 15-12.
The third game was a march for Tuominen, who won 15-4 in short order which, sadly, meant the exit of Jenson.

EASY RYDING
Tuominen will now have to beat Graham Ryding to get into the main draw. The Canadian had an easy time in beating Beau River in three and could get involved in a marathon match with the Finn in the next round. Despite the difference in ranking, it will be a close run thing; not one to bet on.

THE LOGO MAN

Nick Taylor, Manchester’s favourite son, has more sponsors than all the other players put together going by the logos on his shirt. He plays a hard game of squash and he used all his experience to get past Shahier Razik in three hard games. Both players showed lightning reactions at the front of the court and accuracy everywhere else.

Razik started too slowly and lost the first game15-3 but tightened up and stayed with Taylor all the way until 12-12 when he lost two quick points to put Taylor at game ball. Razik pulled one back but at 14-13 Taylor went for a risky overhead smash into the nick and hit tin. He called Set three, hit a fine length drive to lead 15-14, served into the back wall nick to get to 16-14 and then finished off with another winner. Razik through his racket at the floor in frustration and was warned but he had the spectators’sympathy. Like Jenson Razik could not summon fight for the third game and went down 15-5, leaving us all to wonder what would have happened had he won that second game.

LUCKY ODEH, LUCKIER DEL
Taylor will play Del Harris tomorrow and will find a much fresher opponent. Harris was not really troubled by Lucky Odeh, the Nigerian who works in New York. Simon Parke, who won back in 1999 had to work a little harder in beating American David McNeely, while Renan Lavigne, the French player who almost beat Peter Nicol in the British Open this year, had to work much harder to beat Preston Quick, an American from Denver (where Hashim Khan made his home). Quick is seen by most US observers as the best player in the US today and fresh from the Pan Am Games showed not only a useful range of shots but a good squash brain.

Indeed, Quick (ranked 113) pushed Lavigne (ranked 26) for most of the first game before losing 15-12 and should have won the second game having five game points after leading 14-11 and 16-14. But Lavigne played the big points well (as they say in tennis) and emerged a 17-16 winner. He won the third 15-11 but it was far from a convincing victory and if Quick could simply tighten his drives and keep his length for a whole match, he could go far.

Stephen Casteleyn looked crisp and positive in beating Imran Khan, but worrying turned his ankle in the third game. If it was only a minor twist, his match tomorrow with Simon Parke should be a great tussle. Olli

RESULTS:

Tuominen (FIN) bt Dan Jenson (AUS) 15-6, 15-12, 15-4
Graham Ryding (CAN) bt Beau River (USA) 15-3, 15-2, 15-7
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Mark Lewis (USA) 15-4, 15-6, 15-9
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Preston Quick (USA) 15-12, 17-16, 15-11
Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) bt Imran Khan (PAK) 15-2, 15-2, 15-10
Simon Parke (ENG) bt David McNeely (USA) 15-7, 15-7, 15-7
Nick Taylor (ENG) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 15-3, 17-14, 15-5
Del Harris (ENG) bt Lucky Odeh (NGR). 15-1, 15-7, 15-8


*Preston Quick showed promise and gave Renan Lavigne fits (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)*	*Simon Parke advanced over David McNeely (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)*