Draws and Results

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Power & Baizley Capture
Canadian Squash Crowns
Ryan Barnett reports from Edmonton

Over 600 spectators jammed Edmonton’s Royal Glenora Club to witness the men’s & women’s finals for the 2003 Canadian National Squash Championships on Saturday.

In what must be considered somewhat of a rarity these days there were no major upsets through the course of tournament play with both the number 1 & number 2 seeds squaring off in both instances. World #3 Jonathon Power showed no mercy dispatching Graham Ryding in straight games by scores of 15-3, 15-10, 15-10 while Marnie Baizley claimed her second National title by outlasting Melanie Jans in a great 5 game battle 9-6, 5-9, 3-9, 9-6, 9-4.

The Women’s Final:
Game #1 started off with Jans appearing to be the more nervous of the two hitting some fat shots into the middle, which Baizley easily put away to take a 2-0 lead. Immediately noticeable was the fact that the WISPA court plays slow. Meaning that bad shots are immediately punished and that you really have to crack the ball to send it deep.

This court rewards the shot maker and most were in agreement that Jans would take advantage as a result. True to form Jans eventually found her rhythm and had the game back to even terms at 6-6. Baizley then proceeded to show that she can make a few shots of her own slotting in a boast nick to go up 7-6, a Jans error to get to game ball, followed by a service ace to take the opener.

Game #2 saw a serious Jans find perfect length from the get go opening up a 5-1 lead. Baizley rallied briefly to get to 6-5 but it was Jans again with the length, continually driving Baizley deep into the corners and capitalizing on her opponents errors taking the game 9-5 and knotting things at one each.

Game #3 was all Jans. She was constantly volleying anything and everything to keep the pressure on her opponent and it was working marvellously. Jans opened up a 7-1 lead thanks to some unbelievable volley nick winners and coasted home 9-3.

Game #4 got ugly plain and simple. A total of 23 decisions were required in what for the most part was a very clean match. Jans took an early 3-1 lead and appeared on course to claim her fourth crown but Baizley changed things “After the third game coach Gene Turk and Graham Ryding told me to start attacking. To hit the ball with more pace, start volleying, and step forward” Great advice as the whole complexion of the match began to change. Baizley raced away to an 8-3 lead and held on to take the fourth 9-6.

Game #5 started off with Jans committing 2-errors, being called for a stroke and Baizley with a drop winner to jump out 4-0. Jans showed her grit battling back to 4-3 but was given a “No Let” on minimal interference, which Baizley gained momentum from to jump to 5-3. Both players then had to retrieve a new racket as both had strings break in the same game. Weird, first time I’ve ever seen that one. Once the dust settled Baizley pushed through by a 9-4 score and more than redeemed herself for a disappointing 6th place showing one year ago.

Baizley, in tears following the match, said. “I’m in shock. The secret this year compared to last was that I was relaxed. In my mind I was thinking that there was no way I was going to beat Melanie so I didn’t have anything to lose. I just relaxed and played like I knew I was capable. Everything just came together in the fourth game and carried through the fifth.”

The Men’s Final:
This match was officiated by none other than Graham Waters one of the top refs in the game and began with Ryding winning the spin then requesting a bathroom visit prior to the commencement of play. Do the rules allow for that? The men played PARS during the course of the tournament as opposed to Standard scoring which was a change but a welcome one considering that’s what they normally play anyways.

Game #1 was all Power, and I mean all Power. Trailing 2-4 Ryding self-destructed committing 7 errors and being stroked 4 times. Game to Power 15-3. Ryding obviously left something in the loo.

Game #2 saw Power giving the crowd their money’s worth as he began showcasing his theatrical/verbal talents. At 2-2 after being denied a winner and stroked instead by Referee Waters Power lashed out “we’re trying to have a game of squash here”. The players traded points to 4-4 where some questionable let calls by Waters on Power forehand volleys once again resulted in another outburst. I was waiting for Waters to issue the conduct stroke for referee abuse to Power but it never occurred.

A series of errors and strokes coupled with 20 decisions saw the score at 10-7 for Power. Ryding then tinned a boast and the score was 12-7. Both players looked dumbfounded, as did many in the crowd, but the score 12-7 was allowed to stand. More errors, more strokes, more lets, more back chat to the referee by both players and the score is 13-10 Power. Ryding is stroked yet again loses his composure and Waters issues a conduct stroke. Game to Power 15-10

Game #3 started off in much the same fashion as the previous two. Power takes the lead 3-1 then makes two straight errors and we are level at 3. Power surges ahead to 7-4 but Ryding shows he will not go down without a fight. Ryding with nothing to lose levels at 7-7. Power decides he’s seen enough and hits 3-drop winners, followed by a perfect lob coupled with 4 Ryding errors and it’s game 15-10.

Power has his sixth National Championship and doesn’t drop a single game throughout the whole tournament. Too easy right? Power says the opposite. “I really had to work this year despite what the scoreboard may show. The quality of squash in Canada has never been as strong as it is right now.”

Power also had high praise for the Royal Glenora Club and all the volunteers who helped put on a great event. “This was by far the best Nationals the country has ever seen. The venue was first class, the volunteers outstanding. I leave Edmonton with nothing but good memories and have nothing but good things to say.”

I must agree as Tournament Chair Perry Wynn and his team took this event to a new level. They should all be congratulated an a job well done!

Ryan Barnett

26-Apr-03
RYAN BARNETT sets the scene for the forthcoming
Canadian National Championships in Edmonton

CANADA'S CITY OF CHAMPIONS
HOSTS FUTURE CHAMPS
Calling yourself the “City of Champions” is a very bold statement to make unless you can back it up. The city of Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada, can definitely do just that. A series of Stanley Cup ice hockey championships, coupled with numerous Grey Cup football titles, gives this city a rich tradition of winning and being the home for winners. It seems fitting that the 2003 Canadian Squash Championships will occur here from April 30 to May 3.

The tournament will take place at the prestigious Royal Glenora Club, a club deeply enshrined with both history and tradition. For the second straight year the event will feature an all-glass court. Last year it was the PSA’s court which took centre stage. This year the WISPA court will be making its first visit to Western Canada.

According to Draw Master Ian Paton, preparations are going smoothly with the 100 volunteers working hard to ensure the event is first class.

Paton says: “We plan to assemble the court on Saturday and Sunday with the bleachers going in on Monday.” “Once everything comes together the show court will have seating for 550 spectators with the option being available to increase that size by about 100 seats, which I think we’re going to have to do, as 470 seats are already sold with a little under a week to go before the action starts.”

It’s not surprising that these championships are a hot ticket as this is one of only two tournaments held in the country providing the opportunity to watch squash of the highest calibre. It’s also no secret that the player everyone wants to see is World No.3 Jonathon Power, who will be gunning for his fifth crown.

With a $15,000 purse up for grabs, Power will definitely have to be on form as the local competition is getting tougher and tougher each year. There are no fewer than seven players entered who all rank in the world top 100. It will be most interesting to see the progress of the “next generation” of players. Last year, Edmonton native Matthew Giuffre and Shawn De Lierre, now training with Power in Montreal, were given a lesson on playing on the all-glass by Power and Graham Ryding respectively. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten.

On the women’s side, defending champion Margo Green, who was the consolation plate winner at last years Commonwealth Games in Manchester, will not be competing. Green has officially retired from the sport citing a desire to pursue other interests.

This leaves the door wide open for veterans Melanie Jans and Marnie Baizley to slug it out and possibly add another title to their respective resumes. A word of caution. One must never count out Carolyn Russell, who is seeded third. She showed what she was capable of last year, dispatching Baizley in the early stages then knocking out Jans in the semis. It was, in my opinion, a lack of petrol left in the tank for the final which prevented her from taking top honours. She should not be taken lightly this time around. So, to be honest, the women’s field could once again provide a few upsets.

Pre-tournament action gets under way on Tuesday April 29 with two exhibition matches. Power will take on Giuffre, with Jans and Baizley kicking off the evening’s festivities.

• Official site from Canada
   
• Canadian Open
   resurrected for 2003

Photos from Martin Rude

"I’m in shock"
Marnie Baizley

 “I really had to work this year despite what the scoreboard may show"
Jonathon Power

"What happened to 11-7?"
Spectators in game 2

“This was by far the best Nationals the country has ever seen."
Jonathon Power

"Left the venue at 7:00 PM in what normally is a
3hr drive, however freezing rain plus another blast of winter saw numerous
accidents/ highway closures."
Ryan Barnett -
home at 20.30

• Reports from Canada.com

• Baizley travels the world, boasting

• Ex-junior champ back in the swing 

• Power aims for fourth straight title

• Guiffre out to prove he belongs

• Official press release (pdf)