HONG KONG CHAMP PALMER
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Alan Thatcher reports

AUSTRALIAN David Palmer made a sensational leap to the top of the PSA world rankings after beating French outsider Thierry Lincou in the final of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open.

Palmer, the reigning British Open champion and world number three, did not have to face world champion Peter Nicol or controversial Canadian Jonathon Power to climb above the pair of them in the next set of rankings. Nicol crashed to Lincou in an astonishing first round reverse and Power withdrew due to a chronic bout of food poisoning.

That gave Palmer a clear run at his first Hong Kong title and, despite a valiant effort by the half Chinese giant-killer Lincou, the tall Australian was not going to be denied his path to glory.

He triumphed 15-13, 15-6, 15-9 in 46 minutes of carefully constructed rallies and said afterwards: "It's a great feeling to win the tournament and even better to know that I will be the number one in the next rankings. Everything is happening so quickly that it's hard to take in, but it's my job, it's my career, and it's what I have worked hard for for so long."

"It hasn’t sunk in yet. I'm more excited about winning this tournament," said Palmer. He is the first Australian to become the world's top player since Chris Dittmar’s brief spell at the top in July 1993.

He added: "I hope to carry on as world number one for as long as I can. Hopefully this is the start of a new era of Australian dominance in squash."

Palmer dominated play throughout and  Lincou, ranked 20th in the world, was unable to make much headway. However, the man from Marseilles was delighted to have kick-started his career in such spectacular style this week. He admitted: "David was too strong for me. He played too tight and I couldn’t get the ball past him. But I’m still very pleased to have reached the final."

Palmer's astonishing rise to the top is all the more remarkable considering the traumatic experiences he suffered at the hands of senior coaches at the Australian Institute of Sport, who told him he "would never make it" and and refused to give him the level of support offered to other players in the squad.

Palmer's successes have been crafted first of all by veteran coach Joe Shaw, who has been attempting to sue the Institute because of the way Palmer has been treated, and more recently by Shaun Moxham in Antwerp.

The 25-year-old Palmer claims that his outlook and training methods have been far more professional since linking up with Moxham, and he intends to hang on to that coveted number one slot for as long as he can.

He is looking forward to competing in the new World Individual Championships and representing Australia in the forthcoming World Team Championships in Melbourne, and has his sights set on ending the year in rapturous style by winning the World Open title in Bombay.

Interview with David Palmer


Leilani Joyce's 9-7 9-6 9-0 victory over Australia's  No2 seed Carol Owens in the women's final was a morale-boosting triumph for the 27-year-old top seed from Hamilton who reached the climax after ending a three-match run of losses to her great rival Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the three-times former world champion, in the semi-finals.

The 31-minute final may also be the last between the pair before becoming compatriots. Originally from Melbourne, Owens has revealed that she is considering a switch of allegiance to New Zealand, where she now lives.