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| July 29, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-us-Sani 21, 1426 |
Lincou and Palmer justify seedings, clash in final
KARACHI, July 28: Top seed Thiery Lincou of France and second seed David Palmer of Australia justified their top billings and will clash in the final on Friday, disposing of their opponent’s in the pre-finals of Pakistan Open at the DHA Asif Nawaz squash complex on Thursday.
Lincou who is reigning world champion, walked off with a 9-11, 11-5, 11-10 (4-2), 11-3 win over fourth seed Anthony Ricketts of Australia in 69 minutes while Palmer put to halt the winning run of eighth seed Gregory Gaultier of France notching up 3-11, 11-10 (2-1), 11-6, 6-11, 11-4 victory in 58 minutes.
The final will be played at 4.00p.m. This will be the third occasion that two foreigners will fight for top honours in the 25-year history of the competition that once remained Pakistan’s domain
Lincou, 29, who lost to Egyptian Amr Shabana in the 2003 World Open final at Lahore, had a shaky start. Ricketts who was aggressive shot into 4-1 lead getting points on his opponent’s errors.
The Frenchman recovered to equalize the score 4-4 before committing errors to again trail 4-6. Lincou then earned two points to see score tied at 6-6.
Ricketts, who is world No 7, enhanced his lead to 10-6 gaining four points in one hand as Lincou was not in his true elements as his shots repeatedly hit the tin.
The world No 1 then earned three points making the score 9-10 before surrendering the game 9-11 in 15 minutes.
Lincou who has not won any title this year since crowning the World Open at Doha in December last, stormed back taking a 5-1 lead in the second game. Ricketts came close only once at 4-5. Lincou conceded just one point and wrapped up the game 11-5 in 11 minutes to even the score one-all.
Ricketts enjoyed an edge in the third game and led 10-7 with just match point away from win.
However, at that stage, he could not maintain the pace and gave three points to his opponent by hitting the tin to tie at 10-10 as the game entered into tie-break.
After conceding a point by hitting tin, Lincou earned a stroke to again tie 11-11.
Ricketts again surged ahead by getting a stroke but Lincou neutralized 12-12 after he too was awarded a stroke. Finally, Lincou turned the table on Ricketts taking the net two points to win 11-10 (4-2) in 29 minutes.
Finally, keeping his cool, Lincou clinched the fourth game 11-3 in just 14 minutes as Ricketts gave up.
“I am glad to beat Ricketts and look forward of repeating similar performance against Palmer in the final on Friday,” Lincou told journalists after the match.
“Ricketts was most dangerous player and hard to beat,” he said adding after 1-1, he (Lincou) had to get back in the third which was very crucial.
Palmer, who had three British Open crowns under his belt, had an unimpressive start as Gaultier took advantage taking the opener 11-3 in 10 minutes.
Palmer earned applause from the spectators on scoring winning points through his drop shots and maintaining his lead until 10-10. He collected two points in the tie breaker to win 11-10 (2-1) in 16 minutes to level the match one-all.
Again Palmer enjoyed an upper hand in the third set punishing Gaultier and went on to win 11-6 in nine minutes to take 2-1 lead.
Gaultier who toppled Amr Shabana in quarterfinals the other day fought with vigour taking 4-0 and 6-4 lead in the fourth game.
Referee Jamshad Gul awarded a stroke to Gaultier who surged 7-4 ahead. Palmer objected to the referee’s decision as a result the official penalized the former for his misconduct by awarding another stroke point to his opponent.
The Frenchman clinched the game 11-4 and leveled the score two-all in the match.
The fifth and decisive game, was however, a one sided affair as Palmer won 11-4 in just 11 minutes. Gaultier looked completely exhausted in the final set.
“I didn’t played my best today due to sore back which affected my performance against Gaultier,” Palmer who beat holder James Willstrop in quarterfinals told newsmen.
Results (semifinals):
Thiery Lincou (Fra) bt Anthony Ricketts (Aus) 9-11, 11-5, 11-10 (4-2), 11-3; David Palmer (Aus) bt Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-11, 11-10 (2-1), 11-6, 6-11, 11-4
Fixture for Friday (final): Thiery Lincou (Fra) v David Palmer (Aus) at 4.00 p.m.
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