Final:
[6] Simon Parke (Eng) bt [2] Jonathon Power (Can)
17-15, 13-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-13
England number one followed up his semi-final success with a thrilling
five-set victory of Jonathon Power to claim the most prestigious title of
his career so far.
Semi-finals:
[6] Simon Parke (ENG) bt [1] Peter Nicol (SCO) 17-15 13-15 11-15 15-13
15-13
[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [Q] John White (SCO) 15-11 15-13 15-10
England No1 Simon Parke scored one of the most
significant wins of his career when he upset Scotland's top seed and
defending champion Peter Nicol 17-15 13-15 11-15 15-13 15-13 to reach the
final. It was the 27-year-old world No8's first victory over Nicol, the
world champion and world No2, since the German Masters in November 1996. The
1 hour and 50 minute semi-final enthralled the packed gallery at the Harvard
Club in Boston, with barely more than two points ever separating the players
throughout the match. Parke, originally from Yorkshire and now based in
Nottingham, was a US Open finalist in 1995 and 1997 - his last PSA tour
title success being in August 1995 when he lifted the Malaysian Open trophy.
In the final, the sixth-seeded Englishman will face
Canada's second seed Jonathon Power - in a repeat of the 1997 climax which
was won by Power. In a bad day for Scotland, the world No1 ended the
giant-killing run of Scottish qualifier John White 15-11 15-13 15-10 in the
other semi-final. Power, 25, from Toronto, who shares the same birthday (10
August) as Parke, will be appearing in his fifth PSA Tour final this year -
which included victories in the Tournament of Champions in New York, the
Flanders Open in Belgium, and the Libertel Open in Holland.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (SCO) bt [Q] Rodney Eyles (AUS) 15-8 15-9 14-15 15-8
[6] Simon Parke (ENG) bt [4] Martin Heath (SCO) 15-10 15-12 ret.
[Q] John White (SCO) bt [5] Paul Johnson (ENG) 17-14 15-13 9-15 15-6
[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [7] Anthony Hill (AUS) 15-7 15-3 15-3
Scottish qualifier John White continued his demolition
of seeds by beating England's world No4, the fifth seed, 17-14 15-13 9-15
15-6 in the quarter-finals in Boston. White, 26, born in Australia but now
based in The Hague in Holland, now faces Canada's world No1 Jonathon Power,
the 1997 US Open champion, in the semi-finals. Power, 25, from Toronto,
dismissed Australia's Anthony Hill 15-7 15-3 15-3. Scotland's Peter Nicol,
the 26-year-old world champion who beat Power in last year's final, overcame
stiff resistance from Australia's Rodney Eyles, a qualifier this year but US
Open champion in 93 and 96, before winning 15-8 15-9 14-15 15-8. Nicol, the
top seed, now meets England No1 Simon Parke, the sixth seed who was leading
15-10 15-12 against fourth seed Martin Heath when the Scot conceded the
match as a result of an injury.
1st round:
[1] Peter Nicol (SCO) bt Dan Jenson (AUS) 15-5 14-15 15-7 15-5
[Q] Rodney Eyles (AUS) bt [8] Stefan Casteleyn (BEL) 15-8 15-8 15-11
[4] Martin Heath (SCO) bt [Q] David Evans (WAL) 12-15 15-12 15-12 15-9
[6] Simon Parke (ENG) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 17-16 15-8 15-12
[5] Paul Johnson (ENG) bt Derek Ryan (IRL) 15-13 15-12 15-8
[Q] John White (SCO) bt [3] Ahmed Barada (EGY) 15-13 10-15 15-6 13-15
17-15
[7] Anthony Hill (AUS) bt [Q] Chris Walker (ENG) 15-10 15-8 15-12
[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt Graham Ryding (CAN) 15-11 15-9 15-8
Egypt's world No3 Ahmed Barada crashed out of the SG
Cowen US Squash Open when he was beaten 15-13 10-15 15-6 13-15 17-15 by
Australian-born Scot John White, a qualifier, in the first round in Boston.
Barada last week won the Heliopolis Open in his
home country after becoming the first player to beat both world No1 Jonathon
Power and world champion Peter Nicol in the same event.