2003: Final round of pool matches:


Ian McKenzie reports from Broadgate

RICKETTS POWERS THROUGH
Australia's Anthony Ricketts, in his first Super Series Finals, cruised through to the semi-finals with a comfortable win over Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee, who was unable to repeat the improved form he has shown this week. Ong started well enough in each game, but errors from the Malaysian's racket allowed Ricketts to assume control in the latter stage of all three games. Ricketts now moves on to face Peter Nicol in tomorrow's semi-finals.

They met in the World Open in Antwerp, and although Nicol won, it took a gargantuan effort from the then world champion, an effort which effectively took his title away. Nicol won their quarter-final in New York, but again it was far from easy. Both have shown great form this week, so the semi-final promises much ...

WHITE & POWER PUT ON A SHOW
The Power versus White match had all the tension you would expect of a dead rubber, but provided lots of entertainment. Power came through in fast, reactive play to win 15-9, 15-13, 15-13.

White improvised double swings and flicked off the back regularly, but the purpose and will to go further were not there . The 51 minute workout will serve Power well, and although there was plenty of fun, he will have to show real concentration in the semi-final against the in-form Lincou, who beat him in February's Tournament of Champions in New York.

NICOL AND HEATH CONTINUE
THEIR 20 YEAR RIVALRY ...

Peter Nicol  won his third match, the final pool match, but it was 3-2 again, a fluctuating performance with some fun and they just got on with it.

"We have had 20 years of rivalry. He always gives another 10 percent when he is playing me," said Nicol afterwards.

And by word of explanation. "We haven't played a tournament for two months. In this tournament you are straight into it. You don't play your way into it. I have lapsed a bit and then my opponents have played better. So far I have had one eye on next week [the PSA Masters in Qatar]."

This event will give invaluable match practice if it is not too hard, but Nicol has not made it easy so far. The match tonight was not too long, at 67 minutes, but it had lots of action. Heath enjoyed the fast open game and Nicol used the opportunity to practice his shots.

In the final game Nicol got away to 4-1 on winners, then 7-3, and from there Heath was not going to pull Nicol back.

LINCOU BATTLES THROUGH TO SEMIS
The battle between Thierry Lincou and Lee Beachill for a semi-final place was a tight and slightly edgy affair with both players fighting or ascendance and rarely finding it.

Lincou broke away in the first after Beachill was penalised with an unfortunate 'no let' at 6-5 to go to 11-6 - a lead Beachill could not pull back.

The second was a point for point struggle, Lincou having his chance to get away at 11-9, before Beachill came back with two winners and Lincou tinned a crosscourt drop on an easy set-up. A crosscourt kill levelled it for Lincou at 12 all before Beachill stung back with a crosscourt volley nick and Lincou grimaced as he tinned an easy enough volley boast to give Beachill game ball  ­ for he new how crucial it was. He was points away from winning this match, for it would be very hard for his opponent to come back from 2/0, but one game all was a level playing field.

Lincou won a point back with another outstanding backhand volley drop, one of his best shots before Beachill levelled the match with a winning backhand.

Each rally was closely contested, was straight with tight shots rolling down the walls. Beachill has improved with every game and he has a severity of shot which must be the envy of many players. They fought for the T, Lincou searching out volley opportunities as he returned and slotted in neat little volley drops to send Beachill lunging short only to be sent long again. Lincou is both a  modern and old fashioned player. He is sharp and enterprising in front but still hits length, uses a variety of paces and thinks about the placement of all his shots ­ he is a tactical player and it is nice to see. He plays an excellent width on his crosscourt putting them wide, out of reach, a bit like Chris Dittmar used to do, lobs well and uses it properly when he needs to; he has neat close and volley drops and seems to be waiting for every lob from an opponent.

It was a problem for Beachill to find a way through this. Beachill played well enough. At the end he was able to say "I'm not in bad shape and I've got better each day."

He could not however find a way through Lincou's basic game. He tried well enough, but Lincou was up to it when many other players would have faltered and given Beachill balls to attack. Beachill caught Lincou with some deceptive trickle boasts and some narrow crosscourts which required interesting evasive improvisation from Lincou, and a few between the legs shots, but he did not break down Lincou's basic game and that was the nub of it.

Lincou took the third 15-6 with the edge in speed and made his opponent work corner to corner rather too frequently for comfort. The fourth was close to 10 all but after seven lets Beachill tinned a fast boast and Lincou edged ahead on winners and his opponent just struggled to get to the ball. Lincou took it 15-11 and  was through to the semi-finals.