Beachill Stumbles Out
Martin Bronstein, Squashtalk reporter on the scene at Grand Central Terminal

by Martin Bronstein, Live at Grand Central Terminal, New York, 25 Feb 2003
All content © 2003 Squashtalk, photos: © 2003 Debra Tessier

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Until that point the world number three and world number eight had given an exhibition of near faultless squash; every shot tight or to perfect width because any loose shot, that is any shot more than half an inch from the wall, would be punished. Both players can kill the ball and did, given the slightest opportunity. Indeed even when a high cross court looked safe Palmer could volley it into the nick. This wasn't firework squash, more a game of chess with Beachill taking the lead because he managed to impose his pace - slow - on the world champion.

Except for the first two points Beachill led and looked comfortable doing it. It was measured squash, with two good squash brains pitched against each other.

Beachill opened a 9-5 lead but Palmer, using the entire court , slowly inched back to 10-ll. Beachill finished the next rally with cracking disguised cross court flick and then hit two more winner on his way to taking the first 22 minute game 15-13 - the final point won on another imperious backhand kill, just to emphasize that he could do it.

And that, dear readers, was the end of a great match. Beachill came back to finish the game, but he was far from happy and Palmer won it 15-12 to even things. There was a third game, but it hardly mattered, 15-4 to Palmer in 7 1/2minutes. Within a minute Beachill announced his retirement.

As I said at the beginning, a wonderful match for two games and a shame that it never went for five. I asked Palmer if he knew Beachill's strategy from the beginning.

"Lee likes to play at a slow pace and he was definitely trying to slow me down. I was a little worried but I didn't push any panic buttons when I lost the first game - I only lost it 15-13 and I've been slow starting all week, losing the first games of all my matches. In the second I stepped up and started volleying and I always play my best when I go forward and attack the ball.

"It was hardly a collision, I think it was more him trying to avoid running into me and twisting his ankle. Sorry it ended that way but glad to be through."

QUARTER FINAL RESULT [Full Results]
David Palmer (Aus) bt Lee Beachill (Eng) 13-15, 15-12, 15-4 retired.