BRITISH OPEN SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: British Open Squash Championships, Nottingham, England

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [4] Jonathon Power (CAN) 12-15, 11-15, 17-14, 15-13, 15-13 (112m)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) bt [5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 9-15, 15-12, 15-14, 8-15, 15-12 (95m)

Women's semi-finals:
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [1] Carol Owens (NZL) 9-5, 9-7, 9-3 (38m)
[6] Cassie Jackman (ENG) bt [2] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-6, 9-7, 9-5 (46m)

Nicol Tops Power In Sensational British Open Semi

England's world No1 Peter Nicol and Canada's world No5 Jonathon Power - two of the sport's greatest rivals - produced one of the great matches of all-time to bring a rousing climax to semi-finals day of the British Open Squash Championships at the Albert Hall in Nottingham.

Nicol, suffering from a heavy cold, bravely fought back from two games down and 9-12 and 12-13 down in the third to pull off a stunning 12-15 11-15 17-14 15-13 15-13 win in eight minutes short of two hours!

"I just don't know what happened," said the Canadian afterwards.  "It was a nightmare.  I thought it was all but over in the third game - in fact I thought it was all but over loads of times.  He played really well - the best he's played against me for a long time."

Nicol, who looked near to collapse many times during the game, conceded that his game has improved so much recently that previously he would have been unable to stage such a comeback.  "If he'd rallied me, I would have been finished.

"I'd rate that match alongside the Commonwealth Games final in Malaysia in 1998 when, after a series of losses to Jonathon, I was able to maintain my focus and come back and beat him.  Now I've got much more strength and power," said the defending champion.  The win draws Nicol level 17-17 in the career head-to-head tally between the pair.

In the earlier men's semi-final, No2 seed David Palmer fought back from a game behind, then 2-5 down in the fifth, to beat fellow Australian Anthony Ricketts 9-15 15-12 15-14 8-15 15-12 in 95 minutes. 

Despite never having beaten his higher-ranked compatriot before in a PSA Tour event, Ricketts has enjoyed an excellent spell over the past few months and upset Scotland's world No2 John White to reach the semi-finals two days after rising to a career-high world No6 world ranking.

"I was happy to win today, but disappointed again with my start - I need to work on that," conceded Palmer, the British Open champion in 2001.

The 27-year-old from Lithgow, NSW, who is based in Antwerp, Belgium, described the match as 'more mental than physical', and allowed Ricketts to save four match balls in the decider.  "It was disappointing that it took me so long to finish it off," said Palmer, now in his second British Open final.

Palmer has had a disrupted year after complications following appendix surgery in March.  "It's great to be in a British Open final again," said Palmer.  "I've only won one British - to put another one up there would be nice!"

Just over a year after undergoing a second career-threatening back operation, England's Cassie Jackman brushed aside second seed Natalie Grainger in straight games in the first of the women's semi-finals.

The 30-year-old world No6 from Norwich, who was only seeded to reach the last eight, came from behind in both the second and third game to beat Grainger, the world No2, 9-6 9-7 9-5 in 46 minutes.

"Natalie started off quickly and I didn't cope with her very well, but I managed to get back," said the former world No1 who first had surgery to remove part of a disc in her spine in November 2000, then again on a different disc last September. 

"The reason I've got such a smile on my face is that I'm so pleased with the way I'm moving," said Cassie, who is now in her second British Open final after being runner-up in 1999.  "It varies from day to day - hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow feeling just as good."

Cassie's surprise opponent in Sunday's final is Australia's Rachael Grinham, who arguably pulled off the shock of the tournament by destroying New Zealand's world No1 Carol Owens in straight games to reach her maiden final.

The 26-year-old from Queensland's 9-5 9-7 9-3 win in just 38 minutes was her career-first against Owens, the opponent who has dominated women's squash since November last year with seven title wins, including three in finals against Grinham.

"I noticed that Carol was making a lot of mistakes in last night's quarter-final match against my sister Natalie," said Rachael after her stunning victory.  "My game has improved significantly since I have been based in Cairo - but this win is without doubt the best of my career so far.

"I'm looking forward to playing Cassie, despite the fact that I've never beaten her before - in fact, not even taken a game from her," said Rachael.

Official website: www.britishopensquash.com