ANTWERP (Belgium), Dec 13: Bitter rivals Peter Nicol and Jonathon Power stayed on course for a World Open final showdown after the two top seeds came through their quarterfinals on Thursday.
Power, the second seed from Canada, saw off sixth-seeded Frenchman Thierry Lincou 15-8, 15-14, 15-8 while defending world champion and top seed Peter Nicol struggled to defeat Australia’s Anthony Ricketts, seeded nine, 12-15, 15-12, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8.
“I thought I played really well until the middle of the second game,” said Power.
“But I was really poor after that. It was his big chance, and I think he was just nervous and overeager. He seemed to tire in the third, which must have been down to nerves as he’s very fit.”
Nicol and Scotland’s former Australian John White also advanced to the semifinals of the 155,000-dollar tournement.
Nicol’s match was a tense affair against Ricketts who was attempting to achieve his first ever win over the world number one and reigning world champion.
It was a ferocious match, with punishing rallies and precious few cheap points, with Nicol twice having to come from behind before winning in 93 minutes.
“Anthony was within a couple of points of winning the whole match in the fourth, but fortunately I got a couple of points at the right time and kept inthe match,” admitted 29-year-old title-holder Nicol.
Fifth-seeded White, winner of the Flanders Open two years ago, was playing on his favourite court, in his favourite venue.
After a thrilling first game won by his unseeded English opponent Simon Parke, White powered past 16-17, 15-10, 15-6, 15-7 to reach his first World Open semifinal in 72 minutes.
“We play so many training matches together at Nottingham, and they’re all close,” said White.
“Simon’s sure to be back in the top ten soon, I just hope I don’t have to play him in tournaments too often. It’s a great feeling to make the semis,” he added.
White’s father had flown in from Australia to watch him in a major tournament for the first time.
“I don’t see the family that often so it’s great to have them here for an occasion like the World Open,” said White.
“It’s a great feeling to make the semis. We’re all here to win it - I hope I do.”
In the day’s other quarterfinal, David Palmer, the third-seeded Australian, eased past Scotland’s Martin Heath, seeded 11, 15-9, 15-11, 15-10.
Quarterfinal results (prefix number denotes seeding):
On Thursday: 3-David Palmer (Australia) beat 11-Martin Heath (Britain) 15-9, 15-11, 15-10; 2-Jonathan Power (Canada) beat 6-Thierry Lincou (France) 15-8, 15-14, 15-8.
Played Wednesday: 1-Peter Nicol (Britain) beat Anthony Ricketts (Australia) 12-15, 15-12, 11-15, 15-10, 15-8; 5-John White (Britain) beat 26-Simon Parke (Britain) 16-17, 15-10, 15-6, 15-7.—Reuters/AFP
APP adds: Pakistan advanced to the semifinals of World Junior Squash Championship by making a clean-sweep of all the three matches in the quarter final of the team event against Mexico in the World Junior Squash Championship on Friday.
Pakistan’s Khayal Muhammad, Majid Khan and Safeer Ullah all won against their Mexican opponents in straight sets, according to reports available from Chennai.
Khayal Muhammad thrashed Eric M. Calvez, Majid Khan had the better of Jose A. Becerril and Safeer Ullah knocked out Manuel Fregoso—all of the Pakistanis scoring victories by identical margins of 3-0.
Khayal and Majid also reached the semi finals of the individual event earlier in the tournament before both of them lost to opponents from England.