PSA PLAYER BIOGRAPHY

Name: Stewart Boswell
Country: Australia
Date of Birth: 29 July 1978
Height: 1.88m
Place of Birth: Canberra
Place of Residence: Waramanga/Maidenhead, England
Current World Ranking (May 02): 4
Highest World Ranking (May 02): 4
National Ranking: 2
PSA Titles: 6
PSA Final Appearances: 15

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Stewart Boswell is one of a number of young Australians who are making a significant impact on the international squash stage in the new millennium. Born and based in Canberra, the 23-year-old won national junior titles each year from 1993, collecting the U-15 crown in the first year, then U-17 titles in 94 and 95, and the U-19 titles in 96 and 97.

A World Junior Open finalist in 1996, Boswell made his first appearance in the PSA world rankings in January 1995 and broke into the top 50 in 1998. He made his top twenty debut in October 2000, before celebrating his career-high world No4 position in May 2002.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport, Boswell reached his first PSA Tour event final in May 97 when he dismissed the top seed in the opening round of the Manta Magic International in Perth, Australia, before losing to compatriot John Williams in the climax. A month later, he surged through the Japan Open field in Chiba City unseeded to reach the final where he crushed Welshman Matthew Benjamin 9-4 9-1 9-1 to claim his first PSA Tour title.

It was in 2000 that Boswell’s true potential burst through – in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open in late August. A qualifier, he beat Canada’s Graham Ryding in the opening round, then stunned the squash world by removing Egypt’s world No3 Ahmed Barada in straight games in the second. By now in his first Super Series quarter-final, Stewart overcame England’s Paul Johnson, the sixth seed, again in straight games, before bowing out to defending champion Peter Nicol, the world No1 and world champion, in the semi-finals.

In 2001, he achieved the best PSA Tour run of his career when, unseeded, he defeated 5th seed Ong Beng Hee in straight games, 5th seed Martin Heath in four, then 2nd seed Paul Price in five games to reach the final of the Scottish Open in Perth. “It’s the first major final I have reached and the best week of my professional career to date,” said Boswell after eventually losing out to local hero Peter Nicol in the final.

Two months later in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, Boswell repeated his form of 2000 by reaching the semi-finals for the second successive year. Seeded 16, Stewart made his breakthrough in the second round by crushing fourth-seeded Welshman David Evans, then 8th seed Martin Heath also in straight games, to reach the last four. Boswell faced Thierry Lincou, the unseeded Frenchman who removed defending champion Peter Nicol in the first round. The Australian took the opening game, but ultimately went down in four games

He also achieved quarter-final berths in the next two Super Series events, the Al-Ahram International and Qatar Classic – but in Doha made it through to the semi-finals where he fell to compatriot David Palmer in four games.

Two weeks later the pair teamed up to lead Australia to emphatic success in the World Team championships in Melbourne in October – Stewart unbeaten in action in all seven matches.

Boswell rounded off the year in fine style, reaching the final of the YMG Capital Classic in Toronto in November – beating Martin Heath, David Evans and Lee Beachill, before losing a close four-game clash with Peter Nicol.

The former Scot also stopped Boswell’s progress in the first event of 2002, this time Nicol seeing Stewart off in straight games at the quarter-final stage of the Tournament of Champions in New York.

After a surprise first round loss to Amr Shabana in the Pakistan Open in March, then a disappointing second round exit at the British Open, losing to Martin Heath after narrowly surviving a five-game opener against compatriot Joseph Kneipp, Stewart made amends at the PSA Masters in Qatar in April.

After victories over Britons Simon Parke, Alex Gough and Lee Beachill, Boswell made his breakthrough in Doha with a 15-9 15-10 12-15 15-4 semi-final triumph over No2 seed David Palmer – his first ever win over his Australian team-mate. Now in his first PSA Super Series final, Boswell faced world No3 Jonathon Power – and held the Canadian at bay for 85 minutes before going down in four games.

On 1st May, Boswell leapt to a career-high No4 in the new PSA world rankings – an achievement that emphatically fulfilled his main ambition for the year – “to make the world top five”! In June, he will make his debut in the Super Series Finals in London.

Stewart divides his time between bases in Waramanga in Australia, where he is coached by former international Rodney Martin, and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. His main interest outside squash include golf, tennis and listening to music.
STEWART BOSWELL TOURNAMENT SUCCESSES:

1993 Winner Australian Junior (U15) Nationals AUS
1994 Winner Australian Junior (U17) Nationals AUS
1995 Winner Australian Junior (U17) Nationals AUS

1996 Winner Australian Junior (U19) Nationals AUS
Jul 96 Runner-up World Junior Open EGY

1997 Winner Australian Junior (U19) Nationals AUS
May 97 Runner-up Manta Magic International AUS
Jun 97 Runner-up Western Australia Open AUS
Jun 97 Winner Japan Open JPN
Sep 97 Runner-up Chile Open CHI
Sep 97 Runner-up Rio International BRA
Oct 97 Winner Geoff Hunt Aus. Satellite AUS

Aug 98 Runner-up Bogota Open COL
Aug 98 Winner Colombian Open COL
Sep 98 Winner Regatas Open PER
Sep 98 Winner Sao Paulo Open BRA

May 99 Winner Bolzano Open ITA
Nov 99 Quarter-finalist Pakistan Open PAK

May 00 Semi-finalist Italian Open ITA Jun 00 Runner-up Heliopolis Open EGY
Sep 00 Semi-finalist *Hong Kong Open HKG

Jan 01 Quarter-finalist Greenwich Open USA
Jul 01 Runner-up Scottish Open SCO
Aug 01 Semi-finalist *Hong Kong Open HKG
Sep 01 Quarter-finalist *Al-Ahram International EGY
Oct 01 Semi-finalist *Qatar Classic QAT
Oct 01 (Champion team) World Team Championships AUS
Nov 01 Runner-up YMG Capital Classic CAN

Jan 02 Quarter-finalist *Tournament of Champions USA
Mar 02 1st round *Pakistan Open PAK
Apr 02 2nd round *British Open ENG
Apr 02 Runner-up *PSA Masters QAT

* Super Series event


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