Power injured in the Super Series Finals in May14-Sep-04:
Power Out

Sixth seed Jonathon Power has withdrawn from the US Open, according to a news item posted on his personal website.

"I'm really disappointed but unfortunately I have not been able to recover from the injury that I sustained in Hong Kong. My focus now is to get in top shape because it is a busy season. I am going to need to be 100% in order to get back to the #1 ranking."

Power, who was US Open Champion in 1997 and 2000, has been dogged by injury and accident in recent years, and slipped down the rankings after breaking a finger in the opening round of the Qatar Classic and missing the World Open at the end of 2003, the biggest tournaments of the year.

In 2004 he made the semi-finals in the first four tournaments in Kuwait, Sweden, New York and Bermuda, but suffered another setback after the quarter-finals of the PSA Masters in Qatar.

A comeback in the Super Series Finals, where Power, the defending champion, came in as a late replacement, proved premature, and although he reached the quarter-finals in Hong Kong, he was not at full fitness.

"Jonathon is a dynamic presence in any event and, as a two-time winner of the US Open, will be sorely missed here in Boston this year," said event promoter John Nimick on hearing the news.

The revised draw elevates Australia's Jos Kneipp to eighth seed and brings Power's compatriot and one-time training partner Graham Ryding into the main draw - world No10 Kneipp facing Egypt's Omar Elborolossy and Ryding another Egyptian, the reigning world champion Amr Shabana.

Power has a hectic schedule planned, with tournaments in St Louis, Detroit, Cleveland and Budapest lined up before the British Open at the start of November.

Squash fans everywhere will hope that the Canadian maestro can regain full fitness in time to dazzle the fans in all of these events.

Steve Cubbins

Malcolm Willstrop's US Open preview

  

Further details
from Jonathon:

"Playing with Anthony Ricketts three days before the Hong Kong Open, I suffered a torn gluteus minimus which made it impossible to lunge on my left leg. Fortunately my right leg is my dominant leg and I was able to play with relative success in Hong Kong. The courts in Hong Kong were really dead, which suits an attacking player - which was good for me, until I encountered a top player that could pick some of my good shots and I wasn't quick enough on one leg to cover his reply. After returning from Hong Kong I underwent treatment with my therapists but the injury has not fully healed in time. With 7 tournaments in the upcoming 2 months and with the goal of returning to #1 in the World, I need this extra time to heal. My next event will be the St. Louis Open beginning September 30."

Revised Draw:

[1] Peter Nicol (Eng)
Anthony Ricketts (Aus)

[7] Nick Matthew (Eng)
Qualifier

[3] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
Qualifier

[8] Joe Kneipp (Aus)
Omar Elborolossy (Egy)

[5] John White (Sco)
Qualifier

[4] David Palmer (Aus)
James Willstrop (Eng)

[7] Amr Shabana (Egy)
Graham Ryding (Can)

[2] Lee Beachill (Eng)
Qualifier

FULL DRAW