Lincou
Turns Out the Power
Martin
Bronstein, Squashtalk reporter on the scene at Grand Central Terminal
by
Martin Bronstein, Live at Grand Central Terminal, New York, 26 Feb 2003
All
content © 2003 Squashtalk,
photos: © 2003 Debra Tessier
[view
the mens draw/results] [women's
draw/results]
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| Thierry Lincou did it again ©2002 Debra Tessier |
Before the match Peter Nicol told Ron Beck that Power would bury Lincou, that only four players could give Power a game. Better make that five., Peter.
Indeed, the way Lincou is playing, with such confidence and such endless energy he could well repeat his victory over Peter Nicol in Hong Kong two years ago when they meet in tomorrow's final.
Lincou has never before taken a game off the Canadian and when he lost the first game 15-5 it appeared that Power would continue the record. Lincou made errors on fairly simply drop shots. But he was moving well and the errors were probably nerves.
"I gave him too many easy shots in the front the first game," Lincou said after the match. "But I was able to adjust and be more patient in the second."
When the second game started it was Power who made the initial errors to see a 3-0 lead become a 3-5 deficit. Lincou was now reading the game nullifying Power's goldmine - the front left corner. Lincou was there in a flash and in one rally they counterdropped each other three times. When Power normally counterdrops, he wins the point, but Lincou took that away from him. The game was engrossing as Power tried all his moves to get ahead but he failed. At 10-all Lincou hit a perfect forehand volley drop to go ahead and that seemed to take some of the steam out of Power. He hit a backhand into the tin and then Lincou hit another winner to move ahead 13-10. Two strokes gave Power a little hope but with Lincou at game ball Power tried another backhand drop which hit the tin and Lincou had the game 15-13 to tie the match. |
| Jonathon Power tried all his moves ©2002 Debra Tessier |
"In Antwerp I had three game points against Power, but tried to go for shots too quickly. I was really determined to be more patient tonight. That's what I did." said Lincou.
Lincou was now really motoring and in the third from 3-3 he simply took over, hitting winners at will, sending Power the wrong way and even getting lucky nicks. Power seemed to shrug his shoulders in frustration and suddenly defeat was a real possibility. He could neither raise his game nor find new answers to the French tide and when the third game went to Lincou 15-7 Power had a huge mountain to climb.
"Come on," loudly wailed a diehard Power fan from the tenth row. But Power couldn't.
His new JP shoes had no cleats and it was obvious that Power was resigned to defeat. He was only half hearted in the fourth game, unable to find a route to victory as Lincou continued as fresh as when he had started, despite his five hard games the previous evening.
And so at 11:17 pm on February 26, after 58 minutes, Lincou hit a forehand volley drop into the nick to take the fourth game 15-13 and chalk up an historic win over a man he has, up to now, regarded as his nightmare.
Will Peter Nicol be losing sleep tonight? Probably, because he will see in Lincou a player who, like himself, does not give up and makes his opponent earn every point.
An
interesting final is in the offing.
MENS
SEMI FINAL RESULT [Mens Full Results]
Peter Nicol (Eng) bt David Palmer (Aus) 15-8, 9-15, 15-12, 15-10
Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt Jonathon Power (Can) 5-15 15-13 15-7 15-3
WOMENS
[Womens Full Results]
Natalie Pohrer bt Cassie Jackman 9-4, 9-3, 9-2
Carol Owen bt Tania Bailey 9-4, 9-0, ret.
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