WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic, BCE Place, Toronto, Canada

Final:
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [3] David Palmer (AUS) 15-4, 12-15, 15-8, 10-15, 15-12 (115m)

Power Celebrates Canadian Classic Hat-Trick

Canada's Jonathon Power overcame Australia's David Palmer in a nail-biting five-game final of the $40,000 Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic at BCE Place in Toronto to claim the PSA Tour title for a third time.

The hometown favourite, seeded four, took the lead early in the first game and didn't look back, dropping just four points in a game characterised by superb shot-making and incredible rallies.  In the second game, third-seeded Palmer took an early 5-0 lead and levelled the match after a game that Power let slip away. 

Power, formerly from Toronto but now based in Montreal, dominated the third game, but Palmer, from Lithgow in NSW but now residing in Belgium, came back again to take the fourth.  In the final game, Power disputed a call and was penalised a point to drop 4-6 down.  World No4 Power battled back in front of the rallying crowd with deft soft corner shots and diving returns to win the match 15-4 12-15 15-8 10-15 15-12 in 115 minutes.

"In the second game I just lost concentration," said Power.  "I got a bad start, my back was hurting, and I was thinking about it and lost concentration.  If I could have closed out the second game I could have won in three, but he got in there and made it a tough fight from there on out.

"I wanted to play my game and move well," added an exhausted but thrilled three-times champion.  "I knew that if I played well, I could take him so I just settled down and played my game and that's what happened.   Getting those few points at the end helped.  I found a rhythm in the fifth game."

David Palmer saw things somewhat differently:  "I'm pretty happy with how I played, but I'm disappointed by the way he plays.  I'm playing as fair as I can and I still feel I'm getting disadvantaged by the way he plays.  It showed tonight and it's disappointing.  If he chooses to play that way, that's the way he plays.  He doesn't play the ball.  Every time I play an attacking-type shot, he doesn't want to play the ball."

The hometown crowd was obviously behind Power. "This is where I grew up playing and I feel comfortable here, and where I feel comfortable, that's usually where I play well.  And I'm happy to win, obviously, in my home town."