World's Top Four
Cooking in Boston
Colleen Turner reports
The court in Symphony Hall
Palmer back to defend title
Nicol & Power set to meet in semis?
PSA Master White the man in form
Among the 32 champions vying for the 2003 U.S. Open title will be number one ranked Peter Nicol of England (celebrating 50+ months in this coveted spot); defending 2002 U.S. Open champ David Palmer of Australia ranked second and perhaps still a little tender from surgery; Scotland's John White holding down number three and on fire; and Canada's favourite, yet always colourful son Jonathon Power looking for a little surge, but hanging tough in fourth place.
Nicol last won in February of this year, besting Thierry Lincou (France, 5th) at the Tournament of Champions in NY. May and June's competitions saw him narrowly defeated in the semis against third ranked John White and 8th ranked Karim Darwish of Egypt. Is Symphony Hall going to set the stage for back-to-back wins as he prepares to defend his British Open title next month?
Defending U.S. Open champ David Palmer has consistently made the semifinals this year including a narrow loss to Peter Nicol in February and as recently as August when he put up a valiant effort against Jonathon Power at the Prince English Open, pushing out an strong 9-15; 6-15; 15-14; 12-15 showing, but perhaps the affable Aussie is still recovering from this Spring's emergency appendix surgery.
Hot off his easy defeat of Lincou at May's PSA Qatar Masters and victory over Power at the Prince English Open, John White is playing like he wants to move much further than first round at this yearıs U.S. Open.
Canada's darling, Jonathon Power (4th), is possibly suffering a power failure as he ranked as high as number two this year, yet posted a loss to soon-to-be-daddy Thierry Lincou in the semis at the Tournament of Champions, then only made it to the first round when he put up a good fight, but ultimately lost to Darwish at Qatar. His feisty performance in four against John White in the finals at the English Open speak, however, of the Jonathon we all know and love.
Worth watching ... first time U.S. Open participant Karim Darwish (Egypt, 8th). Winner of this year's COAS International and Pakistan's Circuit No. 2, Darwish has consistently placed in the quarter and semifinals of most tournaments entered. An aggressive player, he takes most matches to a full five, rarely going down early.
Tickets start
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For information, please call toll free 877.524.5685.
Saturday, September 13 from 7:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m., First
Round
Sunday, September 14 from 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m., Quarterfinals
Monday, September 15 from 7:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m., Semifinals
Tuesday, September 16 from 7:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m., Exhibition & Finals