2003:  Thursday: semi-finals:
 

SEMI-FINAL SCOREBOARD
Players	1	2	3	4	5	Result
Jonathon Power	15	15	15	-	-	Power in devastating form, into his 50th PSA final in just 44m.
Thierry Lincou	7	8	7	-	-
Players	1	2	3	4	5	Result
Peter Nicol	15	15	15	-	-	Quick finish as Nicol moves into another showdown with Power ...
Anthony Ricketts	11	12	7	-	-

Ian McKenzie reports from Broadgate

NICOL CONTAINS THE
RICKETTS THREAT
Anthony Ricketts has big imposing presence on court and he likes to slam the ball. He is getting better and needs just a bit more finish and steadiness to really break through, and then those above him will not be too keen to play him. All the commitment and physical confrontation are there. This is a warrior, who likes to fight with a cutlass rather than a sissy rapier, and at squash he will blast his opponents off court if he can.

This time though Peter Nicol was too good, and when Ricketts came close he made crucial mistakes.

In the first Nicol was in control and never behind ,winning 15-11. In the second Ricketts levelled at 10, 11 and 12 all, where another forehand volley drop which tinned cost him the advantage, and at 13-12 he was passed by a clinging forehand that died in the back.

He took out his frustration on the glass walls with his racket. They did not break, but it earned him a conduct warning. A little deceptive crosscourt from Nicol caught him again ­ he was too fast off for these and that is another thing he will have to learn ­ and that was the second, 15-12.

"He was frustrated at the crucial mistakes he made to go two down and I made sure that I was not going to let him back in the third," said Nicol afterwards.

Nicol took that 15-7 to move into another confrontation with Power.

"It'll be the 33rd time we've played and most of them have been finals - currently we stand at 16-all. It should be a wonderful game. Jonathon is playing well, he's focussed and wants to win, and when he's in that mood he's very difficult to beat. But I also want to win and I'm quite difficult to beat too!"

It's sold out, but you don't want to miss it.

POWER BLASTS INTO THE FINAL
Expectations were high for the Jonathon Power versus Thierry Lincou semi-final following Lincou's high quality encounter with Peter Nicol in the pool matches, and his win over Power in the New York Tournament of Champions event

But Power just did not let him get underway here. The Canadian was focused and, unusually, stayed clear of any disruptive tactics or confrontation with referee Jill Wood to stay ahead throughout the match to win 15-7, 15-8, 15-7.

In essence Power was too fast with both hand and foot. Great players do not give their opponents time on the ball, and in deadish conditions that is just what Power did to Lincou. Power got away at the start and his racket flashed in a blur again and again. He was straight into his game, got in front of his opponent and Lincou was always on the back foot struggling to get up the court to shots that hit by Power seemed to die shorter in the court than any other players.

In the first game Power was away to 5-1 with a forehand crosscourt kill that was gone before you could see it. A severe 'no let' compounded Lincou's destruction as Power continue on a roll from 8-5 to 11-5 and went on to take the first 15-7. Momentarily Lincou set up a challenge at the beginning of the second at 3 all, then 4 all, but he never really found any of the superb range on his length that he had achieved against Nicol, and Power was able to play most of the match in front of him.

A forced error on a clinging ball, a tinned boast and a lob out, the other shot he found his range with on Tuesday that was missing today, and he slipped behind 8-4 and fell victim to Power's shots 15-8.

The shots flowed easily form Power's racket again in the third, inch perfect drops from the back that gave Lincou no chance, 15-7 and Power was in the final.

"I'm in better shape than I was in New York. I'd had hard games there early in the tournament and I faded out. The pace was too quick for Thierry today. I felt I could hit the ball were I wanted and I was onto it early. I took him short and deep and didn't let him get into a rhythm ­ and I stuck to my game play."

Power was indeed unusually disciplined, in behaviour as well as risk calculation on court. This was an exceptional performance, one that has not drained him at all. He could be moving back to his best and if he can replicate this consistency of shot and mind, delivered at cut-throat speed, it will take exceptional squash to beat him.

"It's my first Final here so I'm pumped up," said Power afterwards. "I was really happy with my performance. I never had much luck in England until the Commonwealth Games but now I think I've turned the corner, so this could be my new place."