Palmer's Title Defence Stalled In Dunlop British Open
Less than 48 hours after a fire caused a power cut which resulted in unfinished matches being continued the following day, a further incident in today's (Thursday) action in the Dunlop British Open Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester will lead to Australia's defending champion David Palmer resuming his second round clash with 15th seed Ong Beng Hee after an overnight injury break.
The Malaysian was 2/1 ahead in games and 2-1 up in the fourth when Palmer was awarded a stroke for interference by his opponent. But the third-seeded Australian, seeking his fourth British Open title in five years, was unable to stop himself colliding with Beng Hee, which resulted in the Malaysian sustaining an injury to his right calf.
As a 'contributed' injury, Beng Hee was entitled to a recovery break – but as further matches in the same round are also being played the following day, the period is ruled to be up to 24 hours.
After lengthy discussions between event officials, the injured party and a less-than-happy Palmer, it was eventually agreed that the match would be reconvened at 11.00am on Friday.
England's Peter Nicol came through his second round match in straight games – but the fifth seed admitted afterwards that unless his game improves before Saturday's quarter-finals "I haven't got a chance".
The former world number one and world champion - and twice British Open champion - beat Pakistan's top player Shahid Zaman 11-7 11-6 11-10 in 39 minutes, but was far from happy with his performance.
"I just didn't feel comfortable – I wasn't moving well, I wasn't flowing," explained the 32-year-old, who now faces top seed Thierry Lincou, the world number one from France.
"He's the most consistent player at the moment – so I'll have to get it right by then."
Lincou was fully stretched by unseeded Welsh champion Alex Gough, who took the opening game and had game-balls in the third before the Frenchman fought back to claim his 8-11 11-4 11-10 11-3 win in 59 minutes.
"I was pleased to get that close to someone who's number one in the world," said the rejuvenated 34-year-old who knocked out Australia's 12th seed Joseph Kneipp in the previous round. "In the end I was mentally, not physically, tired – but I felt I put him under pressure."
In the opening match of the day, Rachael Grinham successfully began her defence of the women's title with a 9-2 9-5 9-2 victory over Scottish qualifier Pamela Nimmo. Appearing in her ninth successive British Open, the Australian is seeded to win the title for the third consecutive year.
"It's hard trying to win the British Open once – but three times in a row is something else," said the 28-year-old Queenslander. "I just try not to think about it."
Grinham will face England's Jenny Duncalf in Saturday's quarter-finals after the seventh seed from Harrogate beat Dutch No2 Annelize Naude 9-3 10-9 9-7 in 44 minutes.
Manchester squash star Vicky Botwright battled for 83 minutes to reserve her place in the women's last eight after recovering from a game down against Irish champion Madeline Perry at Sportcity.
"I have a tendency to play long matches in Manchester," agreed the 28-year-old seventh seed after her 7-9 9-3 9-4 7-9 9-6 victory in the longest match of the tournament to date.
"I didn't think I played particularly well tonight, but it shows that sometimes you're not going to play well, but you can still dig in and win.
"I was a bit edgy, perhaps because it was a first round British Open match – but when you have to play the number 13 in the world in the first round, it's bound to be tough," conceded the world number seven.
RESULTS: Dunlop British Open Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's 2nd round:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 8-11, 11-4, 11-10 (3-1), 11-3 (59m)
[5] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [14] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 11-7, 11-6, 11-10 (3-1) (39m)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) v [15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) (match unfinished)
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [10] Graham Ryding (CAN) 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (53m)
Women's 1st round:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-2, 9-5, 9-2 (33m)
[7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Annelize Naude (NED) 9-3, 10-9, 9-7 (44m)
[3] Nicol David (MAS) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-5, 9-1, 9-4 (31m)
[6] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 7-9, 9-3, 9-4, 7-9, 9-6 (83m)
Friday's schedule:
1100 [3] David Palmer (AUS) v [15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) (to finish)
1200 [5] Natalie Grainger (USA) v [Q] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG)
1300 [8] John White (SCO) v [Q] Alister Walker (ENG)
1400 [4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Karen Kronemeyer (NED)
1530 [4] Jonathon Power (CAN) v [9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
1700 [8] Tania Bailey (ENG) v [Q] Tegwen Malik (WAL)
1800 [7] James Willstrop (ENG) v [11] Adrian Grant (ENG)
1900 [2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v [Q] Alison Waters (ENG)
2000 [2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
For the latest 2005 Dunlop British Open news, check out the official website: www.britishopensquash.com