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 Nicols 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
Janshers 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 Janshers 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: " Im prepared to go to the very end to win", he explained while
contemplating his new position as number one, "and Jansher isnt so he tries to
finish me off quickly."
But there is more to Nicols 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, thats why so few people have won it. I was good, but Eyles was
better. I was disappointed to lose but he didnt 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 Powers game have consistently
foiled the persistence of Nicol as exemplified by the Canadians 3-0 victories in the
semi-finals of both US and Hong Kong Opens.
And Power is very much in the new number 1s mind:
" Im number one but there is so much more I have to do, become world champion
and keep working because if I dont improve then other players will overtake
me."
As to what part of his game he was working on he was more
reticent: "Im 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 Im 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. Ive 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.
"Im 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.
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