WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Volvo Motor City Squash Open, Detroit, USA

Semi-finals:
[1] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [8] Graham Ryding (CAN) 15-9, 15-4, 15-3
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [4] Amr Shabana (EGY) w/o

Power Sets Up 'Third-Time-Lucky' Bid Against Lincou

Canada's top seed Jonathon Power will face No2 seed Thierry Lincou in the final of the $30,000 Volvo Motor City Squash Open in Detroit, USA, in a bid to beat the lower-ranked Frenchman after two successive upsets this year.

Power, who squandered a 2-0 lead to Lincou in his shock US Open quarter-final exit six days ago, rolled past fellow Canadian Graham Ryding in the first semi-final at the Birmingham Athletic Club, while Lincou reached his fourth PSA Tour final this year when he received a walkover courtesy of No4 seed Amr Shabana's badly swollen ankle.

Coming off an emotionally-draining quarter-final win over third-seeded Egyptian Karim Darwish, Ryding was simply no match for Power, who was at the top of his game.  "This is as well as I have played," acknowledged Power. "But I think yesterday's match took a lot out of Graham.  And my pace today took a lot more out of his legs."

Game one got off to a competitive start.  The two players fought to a 9-9 tie.  Power then reeled off six points a row, finishing with two short, front-court winners, a Ryding tin, and a winning drive to the deep opposite corner. 

The five-times Canadian champion from Montreal never looked back.  Games two and three sailed past, as Ryding grew visibly tired and discouraged - and Power soon reeled off a 15-9 15-4 15-3 win to claim the 52nd appearance in a PSA Tour final.

The other semi-final promised to be a contrast in styles, with Egypt's Amr Shabana, the world No12, known for his attacking game and Lincou, ranked five in the world, a fit counter-puncher.  Alas, when Shabana awoke on the morning of the semi-final, he knew he was done.  In the previous night's quarters against Scotland's Martin Heath, he had strained his Achilles tendon - a recurring injury that has bothered Shabana in recent months.

"I was keen to play him," said the Egyptian, who hoped to avenge a loss to Lincou in last weekend's US Open.  "It would have been exciting.  But I have the British Open in England in ten days and I didn't want to hurt myself any more."

In looking forward to the final, and his bid for a 'third-time-lucky' win over Lincou, Power said:  "He'll be tough on these courts because they are very bouncy, and he will be able to get to more balls.  And playing the high tin will also favour him to stay in the points."