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Second Round, Thu 29th Aug | |
[1] Peter Nicol (Eng) bt Joseph Kneipp (Aus)
15/12, 15/3, 10/15, 9/8 rtd (64m) |
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TOP TWO THROUGH IN ROUND TWO | |
The top eight seeds started the
second round in Hong Kong, and while most made it safely through to the
quarter-finals, Lee Beachill and Anthony Ricketts produced the upsets of the
day, putting out Mark Chaloner and John White respectively.
KNEIPP'S KNEE TROUBLE "I was playing an attacking forehand and had twisted my body. My leg was in one direction and my body and weight was changing direction when my knee clicked. I was playing well and felt I was in control and had a chance of winning," Kniepp told the South China Morning Post. Nicol was sympathetic, but grateful for the win. "I was starting to get control of it but at that stage I wouldn't say I was in control. But I'm happy. A win is a win although it is a shame he hurt himself. Some of my squash was good but some of it was pretty average. I play five or six points well and then the next four points I give it away. There is no consistency. It is now a case of getting better as the tournament progresses," said Nicol. Much to Kneipp's annoyance the knee 'popped back in' shortly afterwards in the changing rooms. "It is unbelievable. I have seen the light. It just clicked back into place," said Kneipp, doing a jig to prove the point. POWER BATTLES ON Thereafter Power was rarely troubled as he took the second comfortably and eased away from 8-8 in the third. The referee was still overworked though - Battersby was providing commentary to those in the CathaySquash chat room, and at one point said "I'm not telling you about disputes any more, just assume there's one every three rallies!". "I hate playing Paul as he attacks so well. I had to play good squash to win," Power told the SCMP after the match. NO DRAMA FOR AUSSIES OUT OF THE DARKNESS CAME THE BEACH ''It is good to go into the Asian Games having won here. Both of us are the top seeds and we are expected to meet in the final. This is a big boost for me,'' Ong told the SCMP after his 52-minute battle. Zaman would like another chance to play Ong before the Asian Games, but one opportunity, the US Open in September, has been denied him. "I'm a Pakistani and it is difficult getting visas to go to the United States. It is a shame because I wanted to play there. The next time I meet Ong will be in Korea. Hopefully I will be able to turn this result around then." The final match in the 'black hole' (all future matches are on the Perspex court and live on CathaySquash), featured John White and Lee Beachill. White enjoyed the support in the chat room, where friends and family were eagerly waiting news, but when it came it was that British Champion Beachill had scored an emphatic 3-0 win over John White to set up a quarter-final meeting with his Commonwealth Games partner Peter Nicol. |
Ong finally ends
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