Merritt Properties Squash
Open,
Baltimore, USA
Final:
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt
[1] David Palmer (AUS) 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8 (89m)
Semi-finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt
Alister Walker (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
Quarter-finals:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-3, 9-11, 11-1, 11-8 (60m)
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt
[8] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) w/o
Alister Walker (ENG) bt
[3] Stewart Boswell (AUS) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt
[5] John White (SCO) 12-10, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7 (72m)
1st
round:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt
[Q] Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-3, 11-8, 11-6
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt
[Q] Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt
[Q] Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8
[8] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
bt Lefika Ragontse (BOT) 11-5, 11-9, 12-10
Alister Walker (ENG) bt
[6] Shahier Razik (CAN) 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7
[3] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
bt [Q] Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
[5] John White (SCO) bt
Eric Galvez (MEX) 11-9, 11-13, 11-3, 11-5
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) bt
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 13-11
Barker Thwarts Palmer’s Half Century Celebrations
In Baltimore
David Palmer
was denied the chance to
celebrate his 50th appearance in a PSA Tour squash final with a
win when the Australian was beaten in an 89-minute five-game marathon by
England’s Peter Barker in the climax of the Merritt Properties Open
at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore, USA.
Palmer joined a distinguished group of players who have reached 50 Tour finals
or more - including Pakistanis Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan;
Briton Peter Nicol and Canadian Jonathon Power – when he beat
Finland’s Olli Tuominen in the semi-finals.
The Baltimore win was the second upset by the left-hander from London over
Palmer in successive Tour finals. But after beating the world No5 in straight
games in the final of the Chicago Open 13 days earlier, Barker dropped
the first game in the $40,000 Tour event at the Merritt Club as Palmer looked
set to gain revenge.
However, second seed Barker clawed back the next two games to move ahead – but
favourite Palmer despatched his opponent for just two points in the fourth as
the match moved into a fifth game decider.
Barker ultimately prevailed to win 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 2-11, 11-8 to secure the 12th
PSA Tour title of his career.
The win will no doubt boost Barker’s confidence as he now turns his attention to
next month’s Hi-Tec World Open in Manchester, where he is the 12th
seed. Unbeaten since losing to Egypt’s world number one Amr Shabana in
Cairo in August, Barker faces the Mexican number one Eric Galvez in the
opening round – and can only face Palmer in the event if the pair both reach the
final.
Palmer Celebrates 50th Tour Final
Australian David Palmer
battled back from two games down in the semi-finals of the Merritt
Properties Open in the USA to reach the 50th PSA Tour squash final of
his career at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore.
The 32-year-old from
Lithgow in New South Wales fought for an hour to overcome 20-year-old Egyptian
Omar Mosaad in the quarter-finals before lining up against career-long
rival Olli Tuominen in the semis.
And when the 'Flying Finn'
took the opening two games, it looked as if the half-century milestone might be
beyond the top-seeded Aussie.
But Palmer, known the
world over for dramatic fight-backs which have seen him clinch World Open
and British Open titles from seemingly impossible situations, called upon
all his experience to defeat his fourth-seeded opponent 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-7,
11-8.
"It would be nice to make
it number 50 this week in Baltimore, but it won't be easy," said Palmer on the
eve of the championship. "There are a lot of good players in the draw,
including John White, Stewart Boswell and Peter Barker - who beat me last week
in the final at Chicago."
The reigning British
Open champion will indeed face Barker in a repeat of the Chicago Open
final. Second seed Barker had an easier run to the Baltimore climax, beating
fellow Englishman Alister Walker 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in the other
semi-final.
Palmer now joins a
distinguished group of players who have reached 50 Tour finals or more -
including Pakistanis Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan; Briton
Peter Nicol and Canadian Jonathon Power.