Finals Day
Power thrashes Lincou
Power beats Lincou 11-7, 11-6, 11-2
(41m)
The heroics for Thierry Lincou had
been in the semi-final for in the final there was nothing he could do
against a pacy onslaught from Jonathon Power that just got better and
better.
“I did everything I could and Jonathon Power played at a high pace I
couldn’t match,” said Lincou.
Power started as the playmaker slotting in his drops, flicking his
backswing and following through deceptively with his full followthrough.
Two strokes put Lincou into the frame, the first, harsh and loudly
protested by Power to give Lincou 5-4 but that small window was soon
snatched away as Power applied the pressure and the winners kept come
with pace and deception – four in a hand. A drop off the back, an inch
up that barely bounced was played off a very good length from Lincou and
was virtually unplayable. Perhaps that was a portent of Lincou’s night.
The first was won 11-7 in 17 minutes. Power’s fast reflexs were well in
evidence now and put to good use. He was comfortable at speed up in
front of the short line hitting winning drops, deceptive trickle boasts,
volleys were snapped away just has they emerge from a blurred zone in
which they cannot be seen Power was angling them all over the court.
There were lobs to, straight floated rallies and straight lobs from the
front but there was little chance for Lincou to settle. Against Palmer
Power complained of not being able to get into the front corners and
counter drop. Against Lincou he was breathtakingly fast into the corners
and time and again the world no.1 had to pull up short. Power was
reading it easily now. The second was won 11-6
In hindsight Lincou may feel that for a player with Power’s speed that
he let him into the front too often and that in trying to match his pace
he was too loose. In the third he tried to establish length and perhaps
to slow the game but it was too late. The dream of another brilliant
comeback, as he conjured against Palmer was just that a dream.
“He ran out of ideas,” said Power simply later.
Lincou was forced into error frequently in the third, often by clinging
balls for Power was not just playing at pace but his tightness was an
added frustration for the Frenchman.
The third was won 11-2.
‘I got more and more comfortable as I went on. I was really seeing it.
The more matches I play the bigger the ball gets. In the early round I’m
guessing.”
“I started to play better in January and I was unlucky in a few matches
and ran into a very hot John White which took the wind out of my sails
but I was moving in the right direction.”
For eight months I have been liking squash again. I have gone for the
buzz of playing and winning and not just the points or the money. I have
won in Bermuda and won here. If I can keep my body in shape I can get
right back to the top.”
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Event promoter Satinder Bajwa
flanked by Jonathon Power and Thierry Lincou. |
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Power's speed and deception has
Lincou in all sorts of trouble. |
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Power in front and in control. |
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Beachill wins the 3/4 play-off
against Palmer. |
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Power receives the winners trophey. |
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Power plays at a pace that Lincou cannot match to take his second
Super Series Finals title. |
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