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Voice from Qatar |
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| Day Six The FINALS Jonathon
Power bt Stewart Boswell Power is the Master Stewart, who I've nicknamed 'the Milky Bar Kid', agrees. "But I need just a bit longer, I need to learn a bit more, work a bit harder, but I'll be back."
Sarah pushed all the way Thanks, Qatar - we'll be back Aussie bandits bag an Eagle The only good thing about yesterday's golf was that I came the closest ever to scoring a hole in one on the 160 yard twelfth. I hit it to within 12 inches - thank god it didn't drop as it would have cost me a fortune with the bandits around here. My hardest task so far has just landed - a foolscap sheet of information for introductions at the closing show. We have two Russians with unpronounceable names, from an unpronounceable place, choreographed by an unpronounceable person, with awards from an unpronounceable festival. Not easy for a boy from the Valleys, but I'll do my best. |
“Carol played well today, and probably took heart
from my five game match against Cassie in the semis. I haven’t played my
best in this Championship, but I think I can take a lot from the way I
fought to preserve my unbeaten record. It’s always pleasing to win such a
prestigious event in front of such an appreciative and enthusiastic
crowd.” |
| Day Five Semi-Finals Jonathon Power completed his third successive victory over world champion Peter Nicol in the first semi-final here in Doha. It was an engrossing match, full of quality squash and excitement which had the capacity crowd enthralled. "I felt I lost it myself," said a disappointed Nicol after the match. "I wasted a lot of energy in the first two games, and having got back level I lost the plot in the fifth and let Jonathon play his game. All credit to Jonathon though, he played very well." Nicol is set to leave for the airport tonight, promising to "start some serious training for the next round." As for Power, he is playing supremely well here, on what he says is his favourite court. "In the past I have been accused of not being totally serious about my squash," he told me afterwards. "But I'm very focussed at present, and I'm up for it. I want that world number one spot and world championship back." Stewart Boswell beat David Palmer for the first time in his career in the second semi-final, in a tough, tough match. "I'd already booked my flight out tonight," a delighted Boz told me after the match, "I'll have to reschedule it, but it's a problem I'm glad to have!" Sarah Fitz-Gerald v Cassie Campion was the ladies' match of the tournament - Sarah squeezed past an in-form Cassie 9-7 in the fifth after 79 minutes of compelling action. Mad Dogs and Aussies |
"Cassie had quite a big lead
in the fifth game, but failed to capitalise on that. In fact, I was lucky
to see Cassie lose her concentration like that. I managed to somehow come
through." "I want my number one spot and world
championship back." “I have played him around 30 times and
just lead the head-to-heads 16-14. Power loves this court and has
traditionally done well here. But I have had to change my style to adjust
to this court. It will be a hard match.”
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| Day Four Standing ovation for Pricey Last night's Gala dinner was a wonderful affair, with 200 guests lavishly dined and entertained, but the star of the show was Australian ace Paul Price. On a specially constructed set he performed four songs, three of his own composition, and I can tell you he received a two minute standing ovation. It was magical stuff, an awesome performance and a great show. I've been inundated with people telling me that while he's not a bad squash player, he should consider giving it up! In fact, I can reveal that Paul has already been offered a contract to perform professionally in Qatar. Who is this Robbie Williams, anyway ... Arriving at the hotel after tonight's quarter-finals, I was surprised to see Stewart Boswell wearing a David Beckham-esque sarong. This sort of dress looks good on Beckham, but I have to say that it doesn't do anything for Stewart, who still looked like a fourteen yeas-old waif. However, on the brighter side, the fine for wearing non-PSA approved dress will pay for my dinner tonight! |
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| Day Three Lee beaches White Young Lee Beachill was more simply more consistent than John White in a fast furious match that delighted the audience. When I interviewed him afterwards he said: "I managed to keep my length and form better than John and that was the difference." Alex Gough had a coughing fit on the court, complained of flu like symptoms and was unable to continue in his match against Stewart Boswell. To help out I gave him the key to my suite. On the table I had some tablets that would help him but what greatly concerns me now is that the fridge was crammed with beverages. Alex is not above emptying it. The thing I feel safe about however is that he won't touch any of my jackets because he only has the body of a boy. I'm in trepidation of what I will find when I go back to the hotel. Today we had a wonderful invitation from the Doha golf club to use there facilities. It turns out that the club pro there, Greg Holmes, comes from the village next to mine in west Wales that has a population of about 20. My city has 50. The only sad thing here is that Martin Heath and myself lost on the 17th to Jack Allen and Rodney Durbach. Jack is the only golfer I have played with who carries 6 sets of rule books. Rodney Durbach probably has a horse called Bess and wears a mask when he is home. Off 18 he is a bandit. Power has looked good here and is enjoying the tournament. he loves the hotel has his wife Sita with him and he looks like he wants to add another title to his bag. Look out Peter Nicol. Also looking good is Thierry Lincou. He's relaxed, smiling, playing well and looking the part of a top five player. The Egyptian players have huge
support here, so when Karim Darwish and Amr Shabana make their debuts on
the all-glass court in the quarter-finals they certainly won't lack
support. They'll need all that support though, as they face, respectively,
Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power. Nicol won 3-0 over Joe Kneipp
(that's pronounced 'Kernipe"), but the first two games were the best of
the tournament so far. The world champion won them both, but Joe is
buckling down to some serious training now, and I fully expect him to be
rising up the PSA rankings and reaching the final stages of the big events
in the near futire. |
Cards on Tour It turns out that the two England girls maintain a cribbage series on tour, gambling some of their hard-earned prize money. "What about the squash head to head," I enquired.
"Oh, I dunno, I've forgotten," was Fiona's final reply.
Any colour but blue It wasn't until afterwards that I realised I'd been had - I started with three shirts and ended up with two for a tenner. I must brush up on my negotiating skills ... |
| Day Two Gentlemen of the Game David Palmer, after his victory over Anthony Ricketts, said "that was a really hard match. It had a lot extra riding on it too, since Anthony is a fellow Aussie and is certainly one of the in-form players at the moment. His world #12 ranking is an understatement on current form, so I'm pleased to have won." Certainly from where I stand it was the match of the tournament so far, with not always classical squash, but fierce battling throughout. Ong Beng Hee, not long out of his apprentiship, proved too experienced for another star of the future, Mohammed Abbas of Egypt. If he continues like this I predict he will take some beating in two years' time. Meanwhile, young Beng Hee continued to win over the 'floating voters', impressing as always with his manner and manners on and off court. He's obviously learned a lot from his mentor, top seed Peter Nicol, who eased his way past Rodney Durbach in tonight's last match. Golf Partners Required Kneipp wants to move up the world order, but Thierry Lincou is really starting to show that he belongs in the world top five. Three hard games, but the Frenchman has beaten Egypt's Omar Elborolossy in the first round, although after the match he received physio treatment and a huge icepack on a sore knee. The smile on his face says it all though - he's through. Heath the master of tact I went to check the progress of the matches to find Martin Heath two nil up and seemingly in cruise control against Nick Taylor. Some time later messenger was sent to me saying "I think we have a shock". As I walked to courtside Martin exploded past me, with the look of a man who has just lost 3-2, hotly pursued by a TV crew desperate for an interview. "What happened?", was the first question, to which Martin replied with wonderful restraint, "I lost". Not to be put off, the follow-up question was "Why?". Showing his Scots education had not been wasted, Martin again played it with a straight bat - "he played better than me!". I feel I must brush up on my interviewing technique! Looking at the marking sheet for the match, I note that the local marker, who has been performing this role for us for the last seven years, noted: "Nick Taylor - short hair." His other aide-memoire was: "Martin Heath - Scot". I look forward to seeing how he describes John White ... |
WISPA President Sarah Fitz-Gerald has a host of fans out here. She interviews immaculately, and had the crowd enthralled after her match against Stephanie Brind with tales from the tour. In fact, the interview lasted almost as long as the match!
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| Day One - the Opening The world of squash received an enormous boost here yesterday, when the opening show of the Qatar PSA Masters was revealed before a packed house and extensive TV coverage. Dancers and singers from as far afield as South America, Spain, England and Africa combined with 12-foot stilt walkers in flamboyant costumes to make what was, for me, one of the best opening shows ever seen - better even in some ways than the opening for the Qatar Masters in October, as this one took place on the court. Once again, QSF President Nabeel Ali Bin Ali has shown the world how to entertain. I have never had so many players tell me how pleased they are to be at t tournament, and we still have the Gala Dinner poolside at the 5* hotel for 150 guests, plus a host of other attractions and entertainments to come, including Paul Price performing three of his own songs accompanied by professional musicians who performed at the opening ceremony, and a special trip to the Emir's personal stud farm where we will see some of the finest Arabian stallions - that's horses, not squash players! |
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