NICOL WORLD NO.1
How did he do it? Will it be hunter to hunted? Iain Fletcher interviews the new World No.1, Scotland's Peter Nicol

January was an astonishing month in the squash world with Jansher Khan celebrating 10 years since first becoming World No. 1 at the beginning of the month and then being deposed at the end by Peter Nicol. The rise to the top for the 24 year old Scot was based on an excellent 12 months and a succession of hard fought encounters with Jansher - for so long the man to beat.

Back in April at the British Open in Cardiff Nicol took Jansher to five sets in a 128 minute war of attrition that the Pakistani won to continue his domination of the prestigious event. However, the spirit in Nicol’s game forewarned of his desire and to those in the know he was seen as a growing threat. But victories were needed by the Scot and he duly delivered with a relentless continuity, winning four PSA tour events, the Al - Ahram international, Kuwait Open and the Mahindra Open in Bombay. Importantly he defeated Jansher three times, most recently in December in the final of the Mahindra, a game that can be seen as symptomatic of Jansher’s travails. Unable to kill Nicol off, Jansher grew increasingly irritated, his lack of fitness counting against him as Nicol worked his way back in the game with terrier-like tenacity.

A weakness in Jansher’s game that Jonah Barrington believes has developed due to his superiority over the opposition , a superiority that afforded him the luxury of playing ‘ in a comfort zone.’

A weakness that Nicol is fully aware of and prepared to exploit: " I’m prepared to go to the very end to win", he explained while contemplating his new position as number one, "and Jansher isn’t so he tries to finish me off quickly."

But there is more to Nicol’s rise than an ability to wear an ageing Jansher down. He reached the semi-final stage of every tournament he entered in 1997 - a remarkable achievement.

"My form has been consistently good all year," said Nicol, "but the aim is to win tournaments so my four victories have really pleased me, especially beating Jansher."

Surprisingly the one major tournament that Jansher missed, the World Open, fell to Rodney Eyles. His defeat of Nicol in the final was comprehensive but Nicol is philosophical about the loss.

" I want to win the World Open but to do so you have to be excellent, that’s why so few people have won it. I was good, but Eyles was better. I was disappointed to lose but he didn’t give me a chance, played very tight and was on top of his game."

One to win for the future but while he has become the thorn in the side of Jansher, so Nicol has his own nemesis - Jonathon Power.

The deft touches of Power’s game have consistently foiled the persistence of Nicol as exemplified by the Canadian’s 3-0 victories in the semi-finals of both US and Hong Kong Opens.

And Power is very much in the new number 1’s mind: " I’m number one but there is so much more I have to do, become world champion and keep working because if I don’t improve then other players will overtake me."

As to what part of his game he was working on he was more reticent: "I’m not telling you," he answered mischeviously but finding a way to beat Power is at the forefront of his mind.

"I have to learn to beat him," he added smiling, " and I’m viewing it as just another challenge. I believe that with hard work I will beat him and so all that is left to do is the work. I’ve managed my whole career like that so this is really nothing different, and it would be the same whatever my ranking."

At least Nicol finished 1997 with a victory at the Mahindra Open in Bombay, ironically the venue for this years World Open. After such a successful 12 months it was justice that the last image of 1997 was Nicol clutching a trophy with a disconsolate Jansher in the background - possibly indicative of the future.

Not one to bask in past glories though Nicol has his sights firmly set on as many titles as possible in 1998. That however willl not be easy. Perhaps it was a slauatory lesson fro Nicol that on the day he ecame No.1 mark chaloner beat him in th National championships.

"I’m sure they will all be gunning for ne now," he said.

Nicol now has moved from hunter to hunted but learning how to handle that is just one more lesson he must learn.