02-Nov-02

Sarah Fitz-Gerald achieved the last remaining major goal of a fine career - a record fifth World Open title - but had to endure a struggle full of twists and turns, and three agonizing delays, before she achieved it.

The Australian's victory over the U.S.-domiciled English woman Natalie Pohrer involved a dramatic mid-match swing of fortunes, repeated tumbles on a slippery floor, and a 15-minute time out while the air conditioning was switched on to remove condensation from the floor.

Fitz-Gerald eventually won 10-8,9-3,7-9,9-7 with 61 minutes showing on the clock, but it had actually been an hour and 27 minutes from the first moment to the last, during which time the outcome became increasingly in doubt.

Pohrer, who had come from two games down to upset the former world champion Carol Owens in the semi-finals, now came from two games down to lead 3-0 in the fourth game. Once again she showed herself to have the ability to think on her feet and to play a deceptive and destructive game in the front court.

In the end Fitz-Gerald resisted a worrying Pohrer recovery from 3-8 to 7-8 in the fourth game, thanks largely to patience in the ever-lengthening rallies and to her consistently greater weight of shot.

She was also fulsome in her tribute to her underdog opponent, who had been competing in her first major final.

"Natalie made this title very difficult to win and I am very proud of her," Fitz-Gerald said. "I think in future we will see her name on the trophy."

Pohrer said: "I felt I played well but I just couldn't quite make it. Sarah kept firing it in deep and kept me back. She's a great player - but I have about nine years on her!"

Fitz-Gerald, who will be 34 before the end of the year, claims that she is not certain of retiring. But she also says she will only play league matches and exhibitions for the foreseeable future, which means that her chances of making a comeback may not be high.

If so, the World Open has seen the end of one of the all-time greats, who not only conquered every opponent with whom she was presented but also extensive inner doubts which for a long time made it seem possible she would never fulfill her enormous potential.

POHRER CLOSE
TO GLORY
England's Natalie Pohrer was not far from producing her second major upset in two days when she went down to Australia's defending champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in the World Open final.

"I've thought about this day for months," said Pohrer. "I thought I played well but I just couldn't do it. Sarah's a great player and kept firing it in deep."

Fitz-Gerald said: "Natalie's said she doesn't want me to retire until she beats me.  Well, she came very close today, so I might think about it sooner than you think."

World Open History

Also see: Gulf Times reports

NICOL DOES IT AGAIN
World number one  Peter Nicol retained the Qatar Classic title, beating David Palmer in a five game final, just as he did last year.

Nicol won 15-9,13-15,15-6,13-15,15-7.

"I am really very happy. My win here means a lot for me. I was desperate to set my Doha record straight since I have rarely done well here. This is my second title in seven attempts so I am naturally very delighted to have emerged as a winner," Nicol said.

A disappointed Palmer said: "It is obviously sad to end this way, but a final here was a bonus for me. I am gearing up for the World Open next month and now I need some rest. I have been playing non-stop for quite a while."

The Australian did not forget to praise his opponent. "Peter played incredibly hard. He always comes up with that extra effort to win titles. Peter was just too good again. He proved it that he wanted the title badly, especially in the fifth game when he simply kicked up a storm," Palmer said.

The win greatly enhances his chances of remaining world number one for the whole
of 2002.

"Since I have become English I have had a lot of help from
the world class performance programme," said Nicol, who was born and bred a Scot. "Thank you to them all."

BACK IN THE
FIRING LINE FOR BOWLT
Harvey Bowlt, the South African who became the first referee
in the history of the PSA tour to be sent off yesterday after
David Palmer's complaints were controversially upheld, returned to act as marker for the Australian's match in the final of the Qatar Classic.

Bowlt performed the role successfully and with few problems, though Palmer found himself in trouble two points before the end, when he had a
code violation point awarded against him by Ulster referee Jack Allen for "visual dissent."

Palmer had been staring at Allen and silently mouthing words after failing to win a let decision in the front court during a long rally. That put Palmer 7-12 down in the final game against the top-seeded titleholder and world champion, Peter Nicol.

Meanwhile PSA officials are pondering the implications of
Bowlt's unexpected removal. The incident appears to have created a precedent which may require the discussion of modifications to the game's regulations.

England's Natalie Pohrer scored a major upset by reaching the final of the World Open in Doha with a win over Carol Owens on the day the New Zealand became world number one.

The South-African raised, US-resident third seed also saved two match points at 6-8 in the final game after a remarkable come back from the prospect of a straight games defeat before winning 5-9,2-9,9-5,9-1,10-8.

Pohrer, who plans to become an American citizen and will never play for England, produced the best victory of her career because she had the enterprise to take the ball earlier and try for pressurizing volleys which changed the pattern of the match, and the courage to go for tight winners on the match points.

Even so it looked as though Owens, who won the world title in Edinburgh two years ago, was going to make it when she rediscovered the clean striking of the ball she had in the first two games and led 6-3 in the decider.

"I had to dig deep," said Pohrer. "And I can hardly believe it. I
couldn't be happier but now I have to calm down.

She next plays Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who ended Linda Charman's attempt to reach the final in four well-contested games.

The England number one from Sussex looked as though she might have found a way of slowing down the hard-hitting Australian in the second and third games before going down 9-2,1-9,9-4,9-3 in a 41-minute semi-final.

The crux of the contest was the way in which Fitz-Gerald reacted to the slow-balling and lobbing which manoeuvred her into conceding the second game and to a 1-2 deficit in the third, and which, she admitted, had her rattled for a while.

Fitz-Gerald, who is attempting a record fifth world title, was
pleased that her missing luggage - including the World Open trophy - had turned up, but not pleased that she had had to go to the airport to collect it.

"After taking so long to get it back (five days) British Airways
didn't even deliver it to me," said the world champion.

Fitz-Gerald was also upset that the day before she attempts to get the record fifth title, she lost her world number one ranking to Owens - a remarkable demotion for someone who is World, British Open and Commonwealth champion.
"It's because I missed three big tournament earlier in the year
with injury and then have played some smaller tournaments," Fitz-Gerald said.

"It's frustrating and disappointing, but it's my fault for not calculating. No disrespect to my association (the Women's International Squash Players Association) of which I am President, but I hope the public do think it's crazy."

Oh, yes, Sarah, we do - check out WASSUP @ WISPA ???

Photos from Fritz Borchert
in Doha - more on
www.squash-u-bild.net

REF SENT OFF!
David Palmer, the Super Series champion and President of the
Professional Squash Association, achieved the rare feat of getting a referee sent off while reaching the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha.

Palmer lost his temper with Harvey Bowlt after the South African had awarded a penalty stroke against him at 14-14 in the third game for restricting his opponent John White's swing. The decision decided that
game.

"I want him out - we're both agreed on that. I want the tournament referee," bellowed the Australian, and after the PSA Technical Director Robert Edwards had consulted with Bowlt, with the marker, Jack Allen, and with an observing referee, Ian Allanach, Palmer got his way.

Bowlt stepped down to be replaced by Allen, an Ulsterman, with Allanach, a Scot, taking over as marker. Earlier Bowlt had given a conduct warning to White for bouncing his racket off the wall, while Palmer had three times over-ruled decisions in favour of his opponent, a former fellow Australian who represents Scotland. However it
had not been an unduly contentious match.

Palmer eventually won 15-13,15-7,14-15,15-5 to earn a final against Peter Nicol, the world champion. Nicol reached the final by winning 15-8,15-12,11-15,7-15,15-2 against another Australian, Stewart Boswell, in
a hard 95-minute match.

"My most memorable moment of my career without a shadow of doubt. I am absolutely thrilled to be in the final. It really is unbelievable."
Natalie Pohrer

"It wasn't easy at all. Linda is a very strong player, capable of destroying the best of reputations. It seemed she had a plan for me," Fitz-Gerald said about her opponent. "She certainly had me in a spot of bother in the second game in which I lost my focus completely."
Sarah Fitz-Gerald

FITZ ON COURSE, BUT
WORLD OPEN TROPHY GOES MISSING ...

Sarah Fitz-Gerald remained on course to win a record fifth world title on Saturday - but there may be no world trophy to present to her even if she does.
 
The trophy was in the world champion's baggage left at London's Heathrow airport when her flight was grounded during storms on Sunday, and it still has not turned up in Qatar.

The problem started when the bags were tagged to the aborted flight and sent to the hold before the decision to cancel was known. It was compounded when Fitz-Gerald took a two-legged alternative route to the Middle East, which means the trophy may have followed her to Dubai instead of to Doha.

"Heaven knows how long it will take - I've been waiting four days already," said Fitz-Gerald, who lost her kit and her clothing as well.

"It's been uncomfortable walking around in other people's clothes but now I'm beginning to feel even worse.

"When I rung the airline in London and said 'I'm the world champion and that's the world trophy', the guy found it hard to believe, though now I keep being told it will get to me in time. But there's not long left."

It has already been a fraught build-up for what may be the 33-year-old's last world championship. She might have been disqualified for a late arrival had she not sprinted for the last standby seat to Dubai after overhearing talk about the flight.

Despite this Fitz-Gerald was striking the ball with great weight and timing during her 9-5,9-1,9-6 quarter-final win over the Dutch number one, Vanessa Atkinson.

TWO SEMI-FINALISTS FOR ENGLAND
England got two women into the semi-finals of the World Open in Doha after Linda Charman came back from a game and 1-5 down and Natalie Pohrer saved a match point.

The third-seeded Pohrer's escape from 7-8 down to win 6-9,9-7,9-5,4-9,10-8 against the Australian Rachael Grinham made it the cliff-hanger of the week so far, but the St. Louis domiciled woman with the home in Nottingham is soon to become a US citizen Charman, the fourth-seeded Sussex player won a long and fluctuating tussle with Tania Bailey, her England team mate, by 2-9,9-6,9-4,7-9,9-1, to earn herself a meeting with Fitz-Gerald.

Charman won because at important phases of the match she had a little extra ability to keep the ball deep and tight on a cool court which made ball control difficult.

It was a tense affair, with the reputation of being England's leading player at stake. Several times Charman became involved in feisty exchanges with the referee and once she was given a code of conduct warning for an audible obscenity.

But her vocal eruptions seemed to help her. "I always get ratty on court. It's the way I get myself up. I know it's wrong but I can't help myself," Charman said.

"I try not to be too gobby, but the psychologist told me that if I moan to use it help me refocus immediately. I think I did that," she added.

Pohrer won because her mind was strong and her hand steady when she needed to play a tight drop shot on the match points against her in the final game against Grinham.

"I suppose I've done what I'm expected to now, but I don't think like that," she said. "I've worked so hard for this that I want to go all the way."

Pohrer plays the former world champion from New Zealand, Carol Owens, who beat Jenny Tranfield, the surprise survivor from Yorkshire, by 9-1,9-0,9-1 in only 22 minutes.

White beats Power again

It's quite a big one, too ...

QATAR QUARTERS FEATURE WORLD'S BEST
(knickers permitting)

There were few upsets in the second round, with only Anthony Ricketts and Jenny Tranfield upsetting the seedings.

Ricketts, seeded nine, beat Lee Beachill, the eighth seed, in straight games to set up a quarter-final meeting with top seed Peter Nicol who comfortably eased past Egyptian Amr Shabana. Ricketts was unable to trouble Nicol in their Commonwealth Games and US Open meetings, and Nicol will be pleased not to have to face his Commonwealth doubles partner.

Tranfield, seeded 15, ousted English compatriot Stephanie Brind in four games and will face second seed Carol Owens in the quarters after Owens beat Natalie Grinham. Natalie's sister Rachael faces Natalie Pohrer in the quarters, while England have a guaranteed semi-final place with Tania Bailey and Linda Charman contesting another quarter-final.

Reigning World Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald lies in wait for the winner of the all-English battle, providing she gets past the Netherlands' Vanessa Atkinson at the top of the draw.

Fitz-Gerald's problems seem to be more off, than on, court. She comfortably beat Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy, but still awaits the promised arrival of her luggage from Heathrow airport. Forced to take a last-minute flight to arrive in Qatar on time, she has been surviving on borrowed kit, but the novelty is wearing off.

"I feel a little unsettled," said the world number one. "You don't feel at ease when you are walking around in everyone else's clothes. The airline keeps telling me my bags are coming, but if they don't come by tomorrow I am going shopping. I just want my own knickers."


The men's quarter-finals pitch Stewart Boswell against Ong Beng Hee (Boswell won 17-16 in the fifth in their recent Hong Kong match), David Palmer against Thierry Lincou (a repeat of June's Super Series final), and Jonathon Power against John White (White looking to repeat his British Open success against the Canadian).

With seeded players winning all but two of today's matches it leaves two high-quality quarter-final line-ups, with seven of the current top eight women and eight of the top nine men still in the fray.

Nicol cruises to Shabana victory
Photo courtesy www.qatarclassic.com

"I JUST WANT
MY OWN KNICKERS"
Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s bid for a record fifth World Open title this week made uncharacteristically faltering progress into the quarter-finals partly because, she admits, she feels uncomfortable walking around in other people’s clothes.

The popular Australian has had to call in a few favours from fellow players after losing her luggage on a cancelled flight at London Heathrow airport on Sunday, and Fitz-Gerald’s best form also went missing even though she overcame the teenaged Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy 9-6,9-1,9-5.

Fitz-Gerald needed to recover from two-point deficits in both the first and third games, and afterwards said: ”I feel a little unsettled. You don’t feel at ease when you are walking around in everyone else’s clothes.

“The airline keeps telling me my bags are coming, but if they don’t come by tomorrow I am going shopping,” she added. “I just want my own knickers.”

Fitz-Gerald next plays the Dutch number one Vanessa Atkinson and could then play the former world junior champion Tania Bailey which has been a potential problem. The English player has been the lender of clothing, but has joked that she would withdraw the loan if they meet.

Fitz-Gerald’s closest rival Carol Owens, the second seeded former world champion from New Zealand, also reached the quarter-finals, comfortably winning 9-4,9-3,9-4 against her former compatriot, Natalie Grinham, a member of Australia’s world title winning side.

Meanwhile Jansher Khan, the former world champion a record eight times, has apologized for going missing from the Qatar Classic, which is being played simultaneously with the World Open.

The Professional Squash Association’s Technical Director Robert Edwards has threatened to report Jansher for offering no explanation for his no-show - despite having been given free membership of the PSA and an entry into the $120,000 event by the local association.

The Pakistani is now reported to have said he has a hip injury and that “no-one contacted him about a visa.”

"Winning here is very important for me. A victory here will give me the fifth World Open title. I am very keen to create a new record."
Sarah Fitz-Gerald

"We've always had close matches. Mark plays incredibly hard and rarely gives away any free points. He makes it so tough for his opponent and it's always such a nice feeling to beat a tough player like him."
David Palmer

"It was an easy match in the sense that I won in straight games, but actually it was a hard-fought match for me. Amr is a talented player and is technically very sound. He knows what to do in any given situation. He is very young and has just completed his education. There's a long way to go for him. He will have to improve his fitness in order to win matches in big events."
Peter Nicol

"We have some exciting players on the circuit. Omneya is also very talented and she will gain in on experience as she plays more often. She played some amazing shots and put me under some pressure."
Sarah Fitz-Gerald

"The key to winning here is to stay up front of the court and execute drop shots. One shouldn't play too long. This court doesn't reward long rallies. Volleys is the name of the game in this tournament."
David Palmer

"Such things happen on a squash court. Sometimes we get good calls and then there are times when we receive ones. The one, which saw David penalized was really a bad one. He was right in arguing with the referee. That was a fair shout by David, but unfortunately he was at the receiving end."
Jonathon Power
 

Photo courtesy www.qatarclassic.com

Photo courtesy
www.qatarclassic.com

Owens looking to
finish the job ...

Carol Owens, who hopes to complete the sensational upset she so nearly managed here six months ago, began her World Open campaign with an impressive win over one of the circuit's promising young players.

Owens got within three points of winning the WISPA Grand Prix finals when she led world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald by two games to  one and 6-1 here in April, and again showed how much she likes the Qatari all-glass court by overwhelming Cheryl Beaumont, a talented 20-year-old English woman, 9-2,9-3,9-1.

The world number two was both aggressive and consistent, a combination which she must produce for longer periods of time if she is to succeed in the final she is seeded to contest with Fitz-Gerald on Saturday.

If Owens can do that, the woman who changed loyalties from New Zealand to Australia could spoil what is likely to be a farewell party  for the Australian favourite.

Fitz-Gerald is attempting a record fifth World Open title and is rumoured to be about to announce her retirement. That is something which several of her rivals claim will put her under extra pressure.

"I guess there could be pressure - if you are stopping, you do want to go out on a high," agreed Owens. "But pressure is something you put on yourself and Sarah handles it quite well."

Owens next plays Natalie Grinham, a member of Australia's world team title winning squad, while Fitz-Gerald, who reached the second
round on Monday, meets the teenage Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy.

Fitz's trophy
almost blown away ...

England number one Linda Charman began the campaign to atone for the loss of the world team title to Australia in Odense eight days ago with an emphatic start to her World Open campaign in Doha.

The Sussex player needed less than half an hour for a first round win over Vicky Lankester, the England number 12 from Birmingham, by 9-2,9-1,9-2, and then spoke of atoning for what happened in the team final in Denmark.

"Whenever there is a disappointment like that it is always good to use it to spur you on, and there is no reason why I and the other England players can't do well here," said Charman.

"We know we had a chance to win the world team title again and we couldn't take it, but we can try to make up for it because there are great playing conditions here in Qatar. And I don't believe anyone, not even Sarah Fitz-Gerald, is unbeatable."

Charman would like a repeat encounter with the top-seeded titleholder, because in the world team final she was able to take a rare game from the dominant Aussie. She now thinks she can do even better.

Unfortunately Charman is likely to meet Tania Bailey, the improving England number two from Lincolnshire at the quarter-final stage, which means England's two best players might battle out a well-matched and stamina-sapping contest only the day before facing the world's greatest player.

Fitz-Gerald & Charman
in Odense