WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Bermuda Open Squash Championship, Hamilton, Bermuda

Semi-finals:
[4] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-5, 15-11, 15-8 (52m)
[6] David Palmer (AUS) bt [7] Jonathon Power (CAN) 15-11, 7-15, 15-12, 14-15, 15-9 (103m)

Beachill & Palmer To Contest Bermuda Open Final

England's fourth seed Lee Beachill and Australia's sixth seed David Palmer will contest the final of the Bermuda Open Squash Championship after Bermuda-based Palmer gave his adopted home fans something to really cheer about after his epic five-game victory over Canada's Jonathon Power in the semi-finals of the new five-star PSA Tour event in the island's city of Hamilton, presented by Logic & HP.

In the all-English opening semi-final, Beachill ended the brave run of his England and Yorkshire county team-mate Nick Matthew, the unseeded 23-year-old from Sheffield who despatched both the top seed Thierry Lincou and the world champion Amr Shabana to reach the last four.

Beachill, the 26-year-old world No4 from Pontefract, played precision squash against his opponent who was clearly feeling the effects of his giant-killing heroics over the previous two days.  Matthew had no answer to Beachill's immaculate line and length, but he certainly showed in the Bermuda Open that he is a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Beachill, who burst into the world top five in January this year after a sensational victory in December's Qatar Classic, raced to an 8-0 lead in the opening game before Matthew replied.  In the second, it was Matthew who held the lead most of the way, until Beachill took command from 7-9 down to go 2/0 up. 

The underdog led by a single point on three occasions in the third, but after 52 minutes, Beachill clinched his 15-5 15-11 15-8 victory and a place in his ninth PSA final.

Palmer came into the tournament as the No6 seed, with just an outside chance of winning it.  But after overpowering Peter Nicol in the quarter-finals, then Power in the semis - both of whom are also former world numbers ones - he clearly signalled his intention to regain his position as the world's top player.

The clash between Power and Palmer was a truly astonishing display of squash at the very highest level.  Both played aggressively, showing great movement around the court, and both were prepared to vary their shots, constantly changing pace and direction. 

Palmer made the first charge and never lost the lead in the first game.  Surprisingly, both played an exceptionally clean match - a far cry from the constant stopping and disputing let calls in the Power-White quarter final.  The players settled down far more quickly than some of the spectators, who took a couple of games to realise that cheering a brilliant shot has to wait until the rally has actually finished because these two really could retrieve the impossible!

Palmer moved around the court with astonishing grace for a big man, but in the second game Power turned on his magic and played superbly to win it comfortably.  Palmer showed no signs of his recent injury and slowly began to take control in the third game to move 2/1 ahead.

The fourth was a seesaw battle between two players who never hesitated to go for their shots, and when Palmer took five consecutive points to lead 12-8 it appeared to be all over for Power.  However, after moving Palmer from back corner to back corner, the Canadian played a series of delicate drops to claw his way back into the game until the two finally clashed physically in mid-court during a marathon rally with the game tied at 14-all and Palmer serving for the match. 

The referee adjudged the clash to have been accidental contact and asked Power if he wanted to claim an injury time out.  Power hobbled around the court for several minutes without claiming a time out, and Palmer showed the first signs of frustration when Power, for the longest time, ignored the referees demands to call 'set-one' or 'set-three'.   Finally,  he chose 'one' and the two men played  an incredible rally, both playing the most delicate drops into the front forehand until Power managed to flick the ball into the back forehand corner, just out of the reach of Palmer who flung himself full length across the floor in a vain attempt to save his match ball.  Power was out of the court before an angry Palmer could pick himself up.

With the match poised at two-all, it seemed a matter of who had the mental fitness to win the decider.  Power took an early 3-0 lead, but Palmer showed extraordinary reserves as he chased down every ball and played superb length.  He rattled off seven consecutive points, and for the first time in this phenomenal match, Power made several uncharacteristic errors as three drop shots hit the tin.  Palmer slowly edged ahead, and his fitness never faltered as he finished with a flourish to take the final game, and the match 15-11 7-15 15-12 14-15 15-9, to thunderous applause from an appreciative crowd.

"This is the best match I've ever seen David play," said Palmer's coach Shaun Moxham afterwards.  Palmer himself said it was an extremely tough match, and that he appreciated the support he received from the Bermuda spectators. 

Palmer's victory took 103 minutes - almost twice as long as his final opponent's - and takes the 2002 World Open champion into his 30th PSA Tour final.  "It remains to be seen whether Palmer has the necessary stamina for one more tough match against an in-form Lee Beachill," said event spokesman Roger Sherratt.  "One thing is for sure -Palmer will have the Bermudian spectators cheering him on in his quest to take the Bermuda Open 2004 title."

Official website: www.bermudaopen.com