WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Catella Swedish Open Squash Championship, Linköping, Sweden

Semi-finals:
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [8] James Willstrop (ENG) 15-13, 17-16, 7-15, 15-14 (72m)
[3] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [2] Jonathon Power (CAN) 15-12, 15-13, 15-10 (56m)

Matthew & Darwish In Swedish Open Final

Fifth seed Nick Matthew triumphed over fellow Englishman James Willstrop to reach the final of the Catella Swedish Open Squash Championship in Linköping, where he will meet Egypt's Karim Darwish who brushed aside second-seeded Canadian Jonathon Power in straight games in the other semi-final.

The capacity crowd in Linkoping saw two young English players who have made remarkable progress over the last season - Matthew, just outside the world top 10 at 11, and eighth seed Willstrop not far behind at number 13. 

The first game was hard fought - with Matthew just squeezing the early lead at 15-13.  The second was just as tight, with Willstrop trying to impose his greater shot playing and touch at the front.  At 11-11, Willstrop produced four winners from nowhere to take him to 14-11.  Matthew fought back to 14-14, and Willstrop called 'set three'. 

Matthew's length shots were having a devastating effect on Willstrop as he went 16-15 up.  Willstrop answered with a perfect drop to create a 'sudden death' situation.  The same shot in the next rally just clipped the top of the tin - and Matthew was 2-0 up! 

The pace at the start of the third game was extraordinary with both players making each other scramble to retrieve top class shots.  Willstrop opened a lead early on and never relinquished it, winning 15-7.  He led 4-1 in the fourth, but Matthew was playing the match of his life and drew level, answering everything that Willstrop threw at him.  There was no difference between them until Matthew went 14-12 up to gain his first match point. 

The crowd lifted Willstrop, urging him to make one more gigantic effort to take the match into a fifth game.  He responded positively and levelled at 14 all.  The crowd erupted with excitement as Matthew called 'set one'.  Another outstandingly exciting rally followed, both players taking the ball to the front, counter dropping, driving wide and deep.  Every centimetre of the court was covered until the match ended on a shot just lifted out of court by the gallant Willstrop to give Matthew a deserved 15-13 17-16 7-15 15-14 victory in 72 minutes.

Matthew described his performance as the best match he had ever played in.  It was almost certainly the best match that everyone present at the Linkoping Sports Centre had ever seen.

Earlier, former world junior champion Karim Darwish started well in his semi final against former world champion Power.  After third seed Darwish took the first game, he accidentally trod on Power's right ankle late in the second, forcing him to twist it and stopping play for a couple of minutes.  A let was played and Darwish took two easy points to draw level at 13-13.  Power's focus was going - he needed a good rally to get back into his game, but did not get it as Darwish wrapped up the next two points to open up a 2/0 lead.

Darwish kept twisting and turning his opponent, testing Power's ankle at every opportunity and, despite some outstanding shots from Power, led throughout the game before eventually claiming his 15-12 15-13 15-10 upset in 56 minutes.

Power was philosophical after the match, saying that the injury had upset his game but adding that he expected to be fully recovered for the Tournament of Champions in New York at the end of the month.