WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: US Open Squash Championship, Boston, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [7] Nick Matthew (ENG) 11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-8 (43m)
[8] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [Q] Simon Parke (ENG) 11-4, 11-9, 11-8 (42m)
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt [Q] Dan Jenson (AUS) 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (45m)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Graham Ryding (CAN) 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (40m)

Kneipp Ends Parke Run In Boston

Joseph Kneipp, the eighth seed from Australia, ended Simon Parke's giant-killing run in the US Open Squash Championship when he beat the English qualifier in straight games in the quarter-finals at the Symphony Hall in Boston.

The 32-year-old Yorkshireman, the champion five years ago, made it to the last eight after upsetting France's world No3 Thierry Lincou in the previous round. 

Kneipp raced to a 6-1 lead over Parke in the opening game, before going one up with the loss of just four points.  The second game saw the English underdog working hard and getting results.  Parke brought the score to six-all before the Amsterdam-based Australian regained the serve.  Parke dazzled the crowd with his superb retrieving and unrelenting ability to dig deep into the corners, saving two game balls before missing the ball at 9-10 to give Kneipp a 2/0 lead.

In the third and final game, Parke took a quick 5-1 lead, but the 30-year-old from Brisbane had the evergreen Parke racing about the court, slowly wearing him down and ultimately finishing the game and match 11-4 11-9 11-8 in 42 minutes.

Kneipp will now face defending champion Peter Nicol, the top seed from England who avenged his loss to young compatriot Nick Matthew in May's Super Series Finals by beating the No7 seed 11-7 11-5 3-11 11-8 in 43 minutes.  Nicol has not lost to Kneipp in seven PSA Tour meetings over the past four years.  A surprise second round loser in the Hong Kong Open earlier in the month however, the Englishman will want to reach his 67th PSA final to keep alive his hopes of maintaining his world No1 ranking.

The other semi-final at the renowned Symphony Hall will also be an Anglo-Australian affair - between Yorkshireman Lee Beachill, the No2 seed, and Belgium-based Australian David Palmer, the fourth seed.

Canada's unseeded Graham Ryding was unable to keep up with Beachill's relentless speed and deadly returns, and after 40 minutes the Englishman claimed his 11-6 11-6 7-11 11-7 victory in 40 minutes.

In the other quarter-final, Australian qualifier Dan Jenson came back from 4-8 down to take the opening game against Palmer.  The fourth seed, the US Open champion two years ago, took control in the second game and raced to a 9-2 lead before wrapping up the game, and then the third in similar style.  Game four was full of spills and thrills from both players, but Palmer ultimately triumphed 9-11 11-6 11-3 11-8 in 45 minutes.

Palmer and Beachill approach their third PSA Tour encounter this year with honours shared one-all.  However, in their seven meetings since June 2001, the Australian boasts a 5-2 advantage.