Semi-finals at Grand Central

Men's Semi-Finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (Eng) bt [3] David Palmer (Aus)
      15/8, 9/15, 15/12, 15/10 (80m)
[6] Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt [2] Jonathon Power (Can) 
      5/15, 15/13,15/7, 15/3 (58m)

Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Carol Owens (Nzl) bt [6] Tania Bailey (Eng)
      9/4, 9/0, rtd
[2] Natalie Pohrer (Usa) bt [7] Cassie Jackman (Eng)
      9/4, 9/3, 9/2 (37m)

FRENCH JUGGERNAUT
ROLLS ON AT GRAND CENTRAL
Four Time Champion Jonathon Power
eliminated by Thierry Lincou ...
Beth Rasin reports


The evening ended with a bang as the French juggernaut at Grand Central Terminal continued when sixth-seeded Thierry Lincou ousted four-time titleholder Jonathon Power from the Harrisdirect Tournament of Champions in the evening's last match. Thierry, who had never before taken a game from Power - let alone beat him - hit the ball consistently to length to keep Power out of the front court where he can be so devastating.

When Power took the first game of the match with seeming ease at 15-5, it looked as though the much anticipated final matchup with #1 seed Peter Nicol was a sure bet, given that Lincou had played a tough five-game match to get through to the semis. But a determined Lincou stayed neck and neck with Power in the second game, and snatched it at 15-13. "I relaxed after I won that game," said a thrilled Lincou. "The last two matches I played with Jonathon included some 14-all games, but I had never won. Jonathon was my nightmare.

But after I won the second game, I realized that it was possible to win the match."

Indeed, it seemed that Lincou was playing the Power game better than Power.

Although not as naturally gifted a shotmaker as the Canadian, Lincou used the depth on his shots to make Power cover a lot of court. And he didn't back off from trading drop shots in the front of the court either. It also appeared to help Lincou that the capacity crowd began to support his cause after loudly voicing its displeasure at some of the referee's calls that weren't in his favour. When asked to look ahead to the finals against Peter Nicol, Lincou smiled, "How do you say it here? I am on a roll."

World #1 Peter Nicol staved off reigning World Champion David Palmer with classic squash - patience, changes of pace, movement of the ball to the four corners of the court, and most significantly, brilliant use of the lob throughout the match. Palmer made good use of the rails, keeping the ball tight on the wall for most of the match. But Nicol's staying power and use of every shot in his arsenal was just a touch more than Palmer could handle.

Many in the crowd also thought that the refereeing also contributed to Palmer's undoing, and as in the Lincou match, did not hesitate to voice its displeasure.

In the third game, Nicol managed to stay just a point or two ahead of Palmer, and at 13-12, displayed the patience and retrieving ability that is his forte. During the last three very long points, Nicol used the lob on several occasions to push Palmer to the back of the court when making a long stretch for a well-placed Palmer drop, and was rewarded with a 15-12 win. In the fourth, Nicol jumped out to a 10-6 lead, but Palmer gamely fought back, knotting the score at 10 all. Once again, several long points ensued, and once again, Nicol's patience and willingness to essentially start the point over when having to make a defensive return paid off when he won the game and match.

"It was a tough game tonight," said Nicol. "David was a little bit inconsistent, though. He gave me the opportunity to hit lots of winners."

TOP TWO INTO WOMEN'S FINAL
In the Arader & O'Rourke Women's Open, the top seeds prevailed. Second seeded Natalie Pohrer earned her berth in the final by defeating former World Champion Cassie Jackman in the evening's first match. "I went out really hard, because I wanted to get on top of Cassie right away," said Pohrer. The South African who now plays under the US flag did get an early lead in each game and never relinquished it.

In earlier matches Jackman had displayed the fluid movement that had carried her to the #1 ranking in 1999, but didn't move quite so easily on the court in this match. At one point, she skidded in the front of the court and came down hard against the sidewall with her back, a bit of heart-stopping moment given that she underwent back surgery just five months ago. "I felt a bit stiff tonight. This is my third tournament since returning to the tour last month so it's not surprising. But I am really pleased to have made it as far as the semifinals here," Jackman said.

Pohrer's opponent in the finals will be top-seeded Carol Owens, who was not tested at all by England's Tania Bailey. After losing the first two games 9-4, 9-0, Bailey retired from the match due to difficulty breathing - seemingly the lingering effect of a virus that she has been battling since mid December.

Owens is looking forward the finals clash with Pohrer, who beat Owens at the World Open at the end of 2002. Pohrer won that match 10-8 in the fifth after being down 0-2. "I want some revenge for the World Open," said a smiling Owens.

The top seed and current world #2 acknowledged the importance of the women's finals beyond becoming the 2003 titleholder. Referring to the announcement last week by five-time World Champion and current world #1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald that she had retired from the women's tour, leaving the top spot in the women's game open for the moment, Owens said, "Whoever wins this match will take over the mantle from Sarah."

Schedule of play -
Thursday, February 27, 2003
6:00 PM Lightning Round
7:00 PM [1] Carol Owens (NZL) v [2] Natalie Pohrer
8:00 PM [1] Peter Nicol (ENG) v [6] Thierry Lincou (FRA)

 

Thierry Lincou

 

 



Photos by Squash-u-Bild.net

 

 


Pohrer & Owens in Qatar

 


Bailey & Jackman in the Nationals