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Pace Canadian Squash Classic
John Bassett Theatre at Metro Toronto Convention Centre January 11-14, 2006

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Rampant Ramy Romps To Canadian Classic Crown

Egyptian teenager Ramy Ashour reached another milestone in his phenomenal rise through the world squash rankings when he crushed Australia 's world No2 David Palmer in straight games in the final of the PACE Canadian Classic at the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to earn the first PSA Super Series title of his brief career to date.

The 19-year-old record two-times world junior champion from Cairo - currently ranked six in the world but well outside the top 30 just a year ago - defeated the World Open champion from Lithgow in New South Wales 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 in the climax of the first Super Series event of 2007.

The experienced Palmer, a 30-year-old former world number one, could find no chink in Ashour's armour. He tried slow-balling him, he tried exchanging drop shots; he even tried slamming him off the court. However, the exuberant young Egyptian had an answer for everything and most of those answers found the ball nestled in the nick for an outright winner.

Although Palmer led the first game 5-4, those were his only brief moments of glory. Ashour received two penalty strokes to lead 6-5 and from that moment on the Australian was a condemned man.

Ashour’s reading of the game and his blinding speed were simply too much for the number two seed who has been in the world’s top ten for nearly seven years. The brilliant young Egyptian ran away to win the first game in under ten minutes and then raced through the second in under eight minutes.

It was almost a humiliation for Palmer who could do nothing to stem the tide as Ashour washed over him in the third game to finish the 31-minute drubbing.

"He picked me to pieces," Palmer said of his opponent. "I thought I started well and then hit a couple of errors and lost it. I tried changing the game, but that didn't work either."

Ramy was his usual bubbly self: "It was a good day for me – I always try to enjoy myself. I play every match as though it is the last match of my life," said the 19-year-old.

The pair now head for Chicago where the second Super Series event of the year gets underway on Tuesday. Ashour and defending champion Palmer are in the bottom half of the draw of the Infor Windy City Open and could meet again in the semi-finals.

Before the PACE final, the packed auditorium was treated to a filmed tribute to Canadian great Jonathon Power, who won the Classic title three times in six years. He was presented with a trophy by former great Sharif Khan, who was North American champion for 13 years. The audience was also given glimpses of a possible future champion as Power's very pregnant wife Sita was brought on stage. The baby is due any moment. Dunlop, the official equipment supplier for the tournament, invited the entire audience to a special champagne reception for Jonathon following the finale.

Ramy & Palmer In Canadian Classic Final

Egyptian teenage squash star Ramy Ashour will face Australia's world No2 David Palmer in the final of the PACE Canadian Classic after both players prevailed in semi-final clashes lasting more than an hour at the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Whilst it will mark World Open champion Palmer's 16th appearance in the final of a PSA Super Series event, it will only be Ashour's second. It was in his first, at the Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Open in October, that the 19-year-old from Cairo first beat Palmer to reach the event climax!

The capacity audience in the 1000-seat John Bassett Theatre roared and gasped in turns as sixth seed Ashour beat Australia's Anthony Ricketts, the No5 seed, in four action-packed games.

Ashour, ranked sixth in the world, started in over-drive and was 7-1 up before Ricketts had settled into the game. Although Ricketts fought back, he was unable to close the gap as Ashour ran away to a first game lead. In the second, Ricketts was fully warmed up and kept the rallies going, waiting for Ashour’s youthful exuberance to go for bad shots. It worked beautifully and it was the Australian's turn to win and draw level.

The young Egyptian fought back from 2-6 down to take the third, then won the fourth to secure the match 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 in 65 minutes - much to the delight of the visiting Egyptian Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Dr Mahmoud El-Saeed!

"He went faster than me and I tried to hit too many winners," Ashour said, explaining his loss in the second game. "Anthony is an explosive player, but I like to play fast. That was always my game, but now I have to slow it down - I'm playing the big guys now," said squash's charming young sport ambassador.

Reaching his sixth PSA Tour final in only 26 months is the latest chapter in the remarkable career of the Egyptian teenager who was ranked well outside the world's top 30 just a year ago.

The second semi-final was another Egyptian/Australian confrontation, but played with a very different style. Wael El Hindi, ranked 15 in the world, did not let the difference in ranking worry him as he attacked Palmer from the outset, catching the Australian a foot off the pace and taking the first game with ease - belying the fact that the 26-year-old Egyptian was playing in his 31st Super Series event, but his first semi-final!

Palmer took control of the second game to draw level - but failed to continue his dominance in the ten-minute third game as the fearless, always smiling, El Hindi once again used his shots to take a 2/1 lead. The Australian came back in the fourth game, and leading from the start, tied the match.

The fifth game was a comedy of errors with arguments, counter-arguments - and El Hindi taking a three-minute injury break after completing a full rally after he had twisted his leg. Palmer objected, and the subsequent debates with the referee began to turn the match into a minor United Nations!

El Hindi, all smiles, came back to the court late and still had a sock and shoe to put on. Palmer, far from amused by the extended delay, maintained his cool - taking the game to 10-6. El Hindi hit two more wonderful winners to get to 10-8, but Palmer secured the match 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 after 85 minutes when the Egyptian flew flat on his back during a futile dive to get to the ball.

Ricketts Routs Gaultier In Canadian Classic Upset