A Great Men's Final, A New Champion
Martin Bronstein, Squashtalk reporter on the scene at Grand Central Terminal

by Martin Bronstein, Live at Grand Central Terminal, New York, 25 Feb 2005
All content © 2005 Squashtalk, photos: © 2005 Debra Tessier

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Anthony Ricketts, the 2005 Tournament of Champions winner. (photo: © 2005 Debra Tessier)

John Nimick delivered something to his customers that promoters can only dream about: two great finals in one evening. After world champion Vanessa Atkinson and Linda Elriana had covered themselves in glory, another world champion, Thierry Lincou, and Anthony Ricketts, that tough Aussie, produced a hugely exciting and vastly entertaining match that went five pulsating games over 89 minutes.

In the end it was Ricketts - on his best behaviour for most of the match - who proved he could match the world champion in all parts of the court, except perhaps when it came to drop shots at the front left.

They were both cagey and careful to start with and it threatened to be one of those finals that never really catches fire. But with Ricketts leading 6-5 they performed - and that is the word to describe it, performed, a rally of astonishing lightning reactions and ballet-like agility, that when the dust had settled in Ricketts' favour, that had the audience whooping, cheering and hollering for 30 seconds. This was to be first of many rallies that demonstrated to non-believers that squash is a sport that demands superhuman skills and fitness to get to the top.

Ricketts looked more pumped up than Lincou and got to game ball first but Lincou hit fine backhand chop to even the score and force overtime. Undeterred Ricketts won the next point with a well timed forehand volley drop that was too tight for Lincou to get and then hit a length drive that nicked on the back wall. He apologized to a crestfallen Lincou.

The game had taken 21 minutes and it was obvious that the battle had only just commenced. Lincou moved up a gear, and started slotting in the drops on both sides of the court with unbelievable accuracy. He soon had a 5-1 lead at which point they produced another explosive ballet with Ricketts having to move at an incredible rate to pick up Lincou's range of shots. Another great roar from the spectators and a final that started quite tamely had grown into a breath-holding, edge-of-the-seat display of professional squash.

The second game was Lincou's; you could see it in his body language and he won it 11-7 after 17minutes.

They played with enormous respect for each other: In the third game with Ricketts leading 7-5 there was long discussion with the referee about one of Lincou's shots which he had called good. Ricketts insisted it was down. Lincou then pointed his thumb down to show he had lost the point. At this level they don't accept points that they haven't earned.

Diving for a ball, Ricketts collapsed face down on the floor. In sympathy, Lincou dropped on top of him as the crowd cheered a truly amazing rally. (photo: © 2005 Debra Tessier)

Lincou continued to go for his millimeter perfect drop shots at the front left, making Ricketts do an awful lot of work. At 9-9 Ricketts finally won one of these dropping duels to get to game ball and then finished the game with yet another lucky nick on a hard forehand cross court. The frustration on Lincou's was evident and Ricketts' second apology didn't help one bit.

And so to the fourth game with Lincou knowing that he could win points only with his fine drops. But now Ricketts was playing the same game. At 3-3 came another epic rally featuring drops, drives, gets, entrechats, somersaults - alright, maybe I exaggerate - but it was one of the finest rallies I have seen. It ended with Ricketts diving full length in an attempt to get one more ball. He lay face down on the court and Lincou, in sympathy, lay on top of him, both of them, I'm sure, thankful for the siesta.

But they got up and continued, Lincou now taking the initiative and Ricketts showing signs of fatigue as he ended the game with two tired errors. It was just 12 minutes long….was the writing on the wall ?

NO!

When Ricketts went off for the break Rodney Martin was there to tell him that he'd gone flat and to lift his game. Ricketts told me that he went back for the fifth much more pumped up - and it showed; he was fast, focused and error free. At 8-2 victory was in sight and he played it just right - keeping the ball tight and keeping the pressure on Lincou. Ricketts made just one error on an ambitious overhead drop to give Lincou his sixth point and then got to match ball with a backhand volley drop. The tension was unbearable but Ricketts, despite his lead, took no chances, bided his time and when Lincou gave him a shot that was a little loose, he made no mistake and slammed in forehand volley into the nick.

There is no doubt that Ricketts, who had risen to world number six a couple of years back but dropped down the rankings due to knee surgery, was back in town. He may be number eleven now, but just watch him shoot up the rankings.

Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 12-10, 7-11, 11-9 , 6-11,11-7 89 mins

Thierry Lincou's father travelled to New York to witness his son's brillant performance. (photo: © 2005 Debra Tessier)

More final photos in the photo gallery