Tue 16-Sep 2003:
The Final:
[1] Peter Nicol bt [2] David Palmer (AUS)
15-10, 14-15, 15-14, 17-14
A heck of a show -
Peter Nicol reigns
at the US Open
Colleen Turner reports
Three-time U.S. Open champ, Peter Nicol (England, world number one) and
would-be back-to-back champ David Palmer (Australia, world number two) put
on one heck of a show at Symphony Hall tonight.
This was Perhaps the finest game of the tournament, played before a sell-out crowd.
When you consider that the first rally lasted 47 seconds,
the full house of spectators put to rest any doubt that these top two seeds
were not well matched. Nicol went on a five point streak to start, but
Palmer came back with two to make things interesting.
Talk about defining the gentleman's sport, later in game one when Nicol
could have easily taken a point (but likely dash any hopes of Palmer passing
on his squash talent to future progeny), he took his chances with the refs
on a let call (which he received).
A quick "thanks" from Palmer and the game resumed. Before
I could finish my scribbling, Nicol was up 12-7; tossed a few points
Palmer's way, but ultimately took the game 15-10.
It was a contest of nicks and boast by both Nicol and Palmer in game 2, when
Palmer went up 9-7. Ahhhh, but Nicol, hardly a bad penny as the saying goes,
kept turning up ... the heat, that is. He hit tin to drop 9-10 and hit it
again to drop 10-11. But when the two brought it to 14-all, set one, in a
heated contest, Nicol was forced to play short and handed Palmer the game.
One each.
Several ugly misses early in the third game by Nicol kept the match even
until it was 14-all again. When Nicol took the serve at set one, he
ultimately drove Palmer into the tin at the end of a very aggressive rally.
Two one to Nicol.
Game four action was once again a back-n-forth match, each matching the
other point for point. At 14-all, Palmer this time asked for three. Nicol
went up 16-14 in quick measure, taking control of the T, and finished Palmer
off with a sharp shot just above the tin. Fourth title, a record, to Nicol.
Post-game Nicol commented, "It was a really tough game and I was lucky
enough to win some key points. I was really tired in the middle of the
fourth, but dug deep and pulled it out."
In the post-event ceremony, Palmer expressed his happiness at making it this
far this year (particularly after an emergency appendectomy earlier this
Spring) and vowed to be back next year.
From the SquashPics
US Open Gallery
Pic of the tournament -
another one in the eye for Power