WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: US Open Squash Championship, Boston, Mass, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [Q] Graham Ryding (CAN) 13-15, 14-15, 15-8, 15-6, 15-8
[5] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [4] Jonathon Power (CAN) 11-15, 6-15, 15-14, 15-9, 15-10
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [3] John White (SCO) 17-16, 15-11, 15-5
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-8, 15-11, 15-8

Lincou & Ricketts Claim US Open Quarter-final Upsets

Frenchman Thierry Lincou and Australian Anthony Ricketts claimed semi-final places in the US Open Squash Championship after significant upsets in the quarter-finals at the Symphony Hall in Boston.  Lincou overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Canada's two-times champion Jonathon Power, the fourth seed, while sixth-seeded Ricketts inflicted the first defeat in three PSA Tour events over Scotland's John White, comprehensively beating the third seed in straight games.

After struggling in the first two games, fifth seed Lincou began to get into his stride in the third.  But after a number of unforced errors from the Frenchman, Power looked as though he was going to seal the game and the match, thus making amends for his shock quarter-final departure twelve months ago.

However, for the second time in three events, Power's now famous 'set-one' sudden death call cost him the match.   But after Lincou took the third 15-14, and led 9-4 in the fourth, the match was suspended when Power was struck in the eye by the ball.  It was more than three hours later (after two further matches were played) before the pair resumed - when Lincou wrapped up his 11-15 6-15 15-14 15-9 15-10 victory.

Lincou now meets England's top seed Peter Nicol, who also removed a Canadian to earn his seventh successive semi-final appearance.  But the world No1 also had to fight back from 2-0 down before beating rejuvenated qualifier Graham Ryding 13-15 14-15 15-8 15-6 15-8.

"Graham was up two games going into the third and when he relaxed just a bit, I knew that was my opening," said Nicol afterwards, admitting that his own performance in the first two games lacked length and speed.

In perhaps the most evenly-matched event in the series, world No7 Anthony Ricketts and world No3 John White played point-for-point in games one and two.  Just a month ago, Ricketts lost to White in the Prince English Open after claiming his first ever win over Peter Nicol.  In Boston, however, he toppled the PSA Tour's most in-form player 17-16 15-11 15-5 in 61 minutes to add another formidable scalp to his collection.

Ricketts agreed later that his patient play was a deciding factor in the victory.  "I¹ve lost a few matches because of my lack of patience, so I'm glad to see my efforts paying off here at the US Open."

The 24-year-old from Brisbane will face fellow Australian David Palmer in the semi-finals.  The defending champion was in devastating form as he punished English qualifier Nick Matthew 15-8 15-11 15-8. 

"Nick's in good form, but without trying to get ahead of myself, taking both matches to date in just three is always a good thing," said Palmer, now just two victories away from becoming the first player in history to retain the US Open title.