RESULTS: Saudi International Squash Championship, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Semi-finals:
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-10 (4-2), 11-8, 11-3 (58m)
[2] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [11] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-10 (2-0), 11-1, 11-9 (48m)
Ricketts & Power In World Number One Decider
Australia's Anthony Ricketts and Canada's Jonathon Power will meet in the final of the Saudi Squash International in the Saudi Arabian city of Al-Khobar to decide not only the winner of the second richest PSA Tour event of the year, but also which of the pair will head the Dunlop PSA World Rankings on New Year's day.
Ricketts, the 26-year-old third seed from Sydney who celebrated a career-high world No3 ranking last month, reversed the result of their last two meetings when he beat top seed Thierry Lincou, the world No1 from France, 11-10 11-8 11-3 in 58 minutes. Lincou, who topped the ranking throughout 2005, is certain now to slip out of the world's top four.
The Saudi success marks the fifth PSA final appearance for Ricketts this year – which included victory in the Tournament of Champions in New York in February, then his maiden British Open title in Manchester in October.
Surprise semi-finalist Nick Matthew, the 11th seed from England, battled for 48 minutes against second seed Power in the other match. But the Canadian also came through in straight games, beating the 25-year-old from Sheffield 11-10 11-1 11-9 to mark the 59th PSA final appearance in his illustrious career since July 1992.
Power already boasts a 100% success rate in his four PSA final appearances in 2005 – the Apawamis Open in New York in January, the PSA Masters in Bermuda in April, the Super Series Finals in London in May, and the Motor City Open in Detroit in October. The 31-year-old from Montreal first became world number one in May 1999, since when he slumped to a nine-year low of nine in the final months of last year.