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Aussie Squash Series 2003 10-12 July, Sydney |
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| 13 July PRICE BEATS PALMER IN SYDNEY THRILLER World champion David Palmer
won his first two matches on his international comeback but then crashed
in his final hit-out against fellow Australian Paul Price in a
classic match at the Aussie Squash Series in Sydney on the weekend. Price eventually won 15-14, 15-14, 13-15, 17-15 - a win which will give him great satisfaction, having been named non-travelling reserve for the Australian team which defends its World Team title in Vienna in October (see below). While Price was obviously keen to impress after
being named only reserve for the team, Palmer was clearly a long way off
his normal fitness level, and was utilising the tactic of frequently
opening the door to 'have a chat' with the referee. |
Results
Round 1:
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| 09 July WORLD CHAMPION AND LEADING AUSSIE MEN TO CONTEST SYDNEY SQUASH SERIES Four of Australia’s elite men’s squash players, led by current world squash champion, Lithgow born David Palmer, will contest the inaugural 2003 Aussie Squash Series in Sydney on July 10, 11 and 12. Currently ranked World #2 after a 4-month break due to emergency appendix surgery in March, Palmer will start favourite to take out the four-man round-robin tournament hosted by NSW Squash. It will also offer the players ideal preparation for the Australian Open in Adelaide commencing on July 22. The impressive line-up will feature world No.21 Paul Price from VIC, world No.28 Dan Jensen (#5 in 1997) from SA and Australia’s top world junior Aaron Frankcomb from TAS. Palmer and Price stared as members of the 2001 Australian men’s world championship team and won Bronze in the Men’s Doubles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Disappointingly world No. 6 Stewart Boswell from ACT and world No. 7 Anthony Ricketts from NSW had to withdraw from the event earlier this month due to injuries sustained on the world circuit. NSW Squash chief executive officer Richard Colbran said the event is a great opportunity for squash and its elite players to be showcased in Australia. "Australia currently boasts 10 players in the World Men’s to 60. Three of which are in the top 10. Australian’s have limited opportunities to watch these players compete at their best." "It’s a fantastic concept. The Aussie Squash Series will become an annual event and Australian’s the chance to not only see our most successful squash players in action but to also see them challenge each other." Palmer, who clinched the world title in 2002, has welcomed the chance to compete at an international-standard event in his home state. "Squash is a superb live sport. The spectators will be blown away by the thrill and excitement of international sport," he said. "I am delighted to have the chance to compete, hopefully at my best, in front of a home crowd, it will be fantastic." Colbran believes this tournament, to be staged every evening from July 10-12 at the Thornleigh NSW Squash and Fitness Centre, will become an integral part of the Australian squash calendar. "NSW Squash has a structured commercial platform to ensure the continued growth of the sport within NSW," he said. "The organisation’s vision is for the Aussie Super Series to become the pinnacle of the squash calendar within the state, and potentially Australia." Colbran said NSW Squash would continue to invest in the sport’s development as the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne approached. "It is important we maximise the sport’s exposure during this period. An annual Aussie Super Series event will ensure national and international coverage," he said. Curtain-raisers to the main event will showcase Australia’s best young talent including members of the NSW Squash Academy. |
AUSSIE TEAM
PALMER RELISHES "It is fantastic to finally be back," saod Palmer
before the start of the Aussie Series. "This is an important tournament
for me, to gain some match-practice and confidence for upcoming overseas
events. |
| 25-Jun JENSON LATE REPLACEMENT FOR RICKETTS IN SYDNEY SERIES Injury-plagued South Australian Dan Jenson will use next month’s Aussie Squash Series in Sydney as a platform to return to the world’s top 10, after he was named as a late replacement for Anthony Ricketts. Jenson showed in 2002 when he won three events including the CAS International in Pakistan, that his rise to world No.5 in 1999 was no fluke. However, a chronic back injury four years ago scuttled his ambitions of reaching the very top. Jenson, who possesses a lethal backhand, said he faced a crucial 12 months in his bid to once again become a force on the world tour. “I’ve got 20 percent to add to my game – my squash has been sporadic because of my injuries but if I can’t get back into the world’s top 10 I don’t want to keep playing,” the world No.29 from Adelaide said. “In 1999 I was 23 (years old) and at that stage there were only two top players I hadn’t beaten – England’s Peter Nicol and Canadian Jonathon Power - and things were looking great but then my back started causing problems. “I struggled through ’99 but then for nine months I didn’t hit a ball.” Even during a largely successful 2002, he again was frustrated by injury when he was sidelined for three months at the end of the year, and missed the World Open, due to a knee cartilage problem. “The Aussie Squash Series is an important event for me as if I do well it will give me the confidence to look for a return to the world’s top 10 even though there are no ranking points at stake,” the 2003 NSW Open champion said. Jenson faces world champion David Palmer, world No.6 Stewart Boswell and world No.21 Paul Price at the four-man round-robin series in Sydney from July 10-12. World No.7 Ricketts has been struggling with a hip injury, and although he is playing at this week’s Spanish Open in Seville for world rankings purposes, has opted to then take three weeks off to recover. World No.2 Palmer, who will be back in his home state of New South Wales, will start slight favourite in Sydney despite his enforced layoff following a burst appendix earlier this year. This will be his first event since the March operation. NSW Squash chief executive officer Richard Colbran said the tournament was the first international squash event to be staged in Sydney since the women’s world championship back in 1990. “It is extremely exciting to have a round-robin squash tournament of this stature in Australia, and despite losing Anthony I have no doubt Dan Jenson is the ideal replacement,” he said. Lithgow-born Palmer, who clinched the world title last year, has welcomed the chance to compete at an international-standard event in his home state. “Squash is a superb live sport. The spectators will be blown away by the thrill and excitement of international sport,” he said. ”I am thrilled to have the chance to compete in front of a home crowd, it will be fantastic.” Colbran believes that the tournament at the Thornleigh NSW Squash and Fitness Centre will become an integral part of the Australian squash calendar. |
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03-Jun-03 LEADING AUSSIE MEN SET FOR RARE SYDNEY SHOWDOWN Four of Australia’s elite men’s squash players, led by current world champion David Palmer, are set for a crunch showdown at next month’s inaugural 2003 Aussie Super Series in Sydney. World No.2 Palmer, who will be back in his home state, will start slight favourite to take out the four-man round-robin tournament hosted by NSW Squash. The July 10-12 event will also offer the players ideal preparation, if they opt to compete at the Australian Open in Adelaide a fortnight later. The star-studded line-up will feature world No.6 Stewart Boswell from the ACT, world No.7 Anthony Ricketts from NSW and world No.21 Paul Price from Victoria – all members of the 2001 Australian men’s world championship team. NSW Squash chief executive officer Richard Colbran said it was the first international squash event to be staged in Sydney since the women’s world championship back in 1990. “It is extremely exciting to have a round-robin squash tournament of this stature in Australia,” he said. “It’s a fantastic concept and three of the players on view are currently in the top seven in the PSA world rankings which just shows the quality that will be on show. “This will become an annual event and gives locals the chance to not only see our most successful squash players in action but to also see them challenge each other.” Lithgow-born Palmer, who clinched the world title last year, has welcomed the chance to compete at an international-standard event in his home state. “Squash is a superb live sport. The spectators will be blown away by the thrill and excitement of international sport,” he said. ”I am thrilled to have the chance to compete in front of a home crowd, it will be fantastic.” Colbran believes that the tournament at the Thornleigh NSW Squash and Fitness Centre will become an integral part of the Australian squash calendar. “NSW Squash has a structured commercial platform to ensure the continued growth of the sport within NSW,” he said. “The organisation’s vision is for the Aussie Super Series to become the pinnacle of the squash calendar within the state, and potentially Australia.” Colbran said NSW Squash would continue to invest in the sport’s development as the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne approached. “It is important we maximise the sport’s exposure during this period. An annual Aussie Super Series event will ensure national and international coverage,” he said. Curtain-raisers to the main event will showcase Australia’s best young talent including 2002 British Junior Open champion Kasey Brown and members of the NSW Squash Academy. Hospitality and ticketing packages are available at $165 (including GST) per person. The packages include a three-course dinner plus drinks, interviews and personal meetings with the players, and VIP passes to the post match function. Limited public access tickets are available through NSW Squash. Prices are $22 for adults and $11 for people under 18. For further details on the hospitality packages contact NSW Squash Marketing Co-ordinator Mark Burton markb@nswsquash.com.au |
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