Quarter-finals:
Day 1
Martin
Bronstein, Squashtalk reporter on the scene at Grand Central Terminal
by
Martin Bronstein, Live at Grand Central Terminal, New York, 22 Feb 2005
All
content © 2005 Squashtalk,
photos: © 2005 Debra Tessier
[view the main draw/results] [view the qualifying draw/results]
WILL CONTROVERSY EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF ACTUALLY HITTING THE BALL?
 |
| Sad
for all concerned, but especially for Nick Matthew on his second
withdrawal from a major tournament. |
MATTHEW BACKS OUT AGAIN
That match was the first of the evening with Nick Matthew promising to give world champion Thierry Lincou a real challenge. The up-an-coming Englishman is now solidly entrenched in the top ten and will continue to be a contender for top three - if his back holds up. In Toronto for the Canadian Classic last November he withdrew from the quarters after injuring his back in training. Since then he has been performing well and in the first game against Lincou tonight he performed very well indeed. There's nothing flashy about Matthew and he's not a hacker either; he has evolved into a player with a solid defense and a nice feel for the right time to attack.
From the start he controlled the T and was hitting better length then Lincou. He took a comfortable lead and when Lincou was given a decision that he didn't like, Matthew benefited from some sulky errors.
Lincou's length gradually improved but Matthew never looked threatened and he held on to his advantage to win 11-8 in 19 minutes.
Within a minute of the players
leaving the court England assistant coach Paul Carter was telling the
referee that Matthew needed a three minute injury break. (the maximum
allowed for 'self-inflicted' ailments). It seemed that Matthew had received
a couple of knocks during the first game and his back had gone into spasm.
When play resume, it was obvious that Matthew would soon be on the plane
home; he gave token resistance as Lincou simply had to hit the ball to
the front wall to win the point. It took two minutes for Lincou's 11-0
win and the prospect of an unfinished match grew.
But Matthew returned and the rallies were for real with the Yorkshireman
contesting each ball. That lasted until Lincou led 7-2, at which point
Matthew shook hands and it was all over. Sad for all concerned, but especially
for Matthew on his second withdrawal from a major tournament.
…NOW BRING ON THE PROTESTS
 |
| It
started as a procession for Vanessa Atkinson who hit the ball solidly
found good length and simply outplayed Rebecca Macree. |
There followed the first of
the women's matches in Grand Central Station, a quarter-final between
the women's world champion Vanessa Atkinson of The Netherlands and Rebecca
Macree of England. Macree has a reputation for blocking on her shots and
constantly questioning the referee's decisions. You can almost bet on
the fact that there will a lot of body contact in any of her matches and
so it proved as the match wore on.
It started as a procession for Atkinson who hit the ball solidly found
good length and simply outplayed Macree, who could have been nervous because
of the size of the crowd and the venue. She left the court after seven
minutes having earned just one point.
The second game was twice the length because Macree was now finding her game and hitting some wonderful drop shots. As Atkinson lost her length and started going short, the fortunes changed in Macree's favour. She was on to Atkinson's attempted winners like a terrier and counterdropping with great accuracy. Her disguised backhand crosscourts deceived Atkinson every time. The protests on the referee's decisions were now becoming more frequent and any rhythm that had been in the game now vanished. Macree seems to flourish in this gentle mayhem while Atkinson becomes more flustered. Macree took the second game 9-3 and persisted in his game to take the third 9-7 to lead 2/1.
Atkinson started hitting to length again and as Macree tired, her drop shots were more predictable and less accurate. AT 7-1 in Atkinson's favour it was obvious that Macree was very tired and wanted out, not even going for some easier balls.
Atkinson tied the match by winning the game 9-3 and ran to a 6-0 in the fifth. But Macree found a second win and started fight back and with the help of three errors from her opponent got back to 6-4. Macree does not give up and she has won many matches from hopeless positions - so this was a critical point in the match for Atkinson. She finally took her seventh point after three changes of hand and with two errors won the game 9-4 to take the match after 66 minutes and dozens of protests.
When I asked Vanessa what happened
after the first game she rolled her eyes and admitted that she changed
tactics for the wrong reasons.
"I just wanted to get off court quickly and started going for winners.
And then I got sucked into her game which means we weren't hitting the
ball so hard. The ball got heavy and cold and was dying in the corners.
Rebecca is always difficult to play and I don't enjoy it," she said
candidly.
…AND THE OSCAR FOR BEST ACTING BY A SQUASH PLAYER GOES TO ….JONATHON POWER
 |
 |
| Jonathon
Power can still move faster than anybody from a standing start.
The top photo of Power was taken at 22:16:44:07 and the botton at
22:16:45:19. More photos of quarter-finals |
On the other hand, there would be no outright fisticuffs, invective or equipment damage: David Palmer is virtually on probation because of an outbreak in December at the world doubles tournament when he failed to control his quite considerable temper.
Seriously, folks these men play extremely good squash and the packed seating at Grand Central Station was testimony to the drawing power of the charismatic Canadian. Every corner was jam-packed and he didn't disappoint. He still has the fastest, most educated racket hand in the game, can still move faster than anybody from a standing start and still has that wonderful wit.
The first 22 minute game was
measured, tight squash exploring the four corners with Power constantly
starting his assault with his backhand drop to the front left corner.
But Palmer moving like a panther was on to the tactic and the inch perfect
counter drop would then be sent soaring to the back of the court.
Palmer won that first game 11-9 but there was nothing in it; certainly
Power was still in it as he raced through the second game 11-4 in 13 minutes,
with Palmer barely contest the last two points.
 |
| Power
drove the ball into the tin - to be followed by his racket to give
Palmer the match. |
The fifth game was all drama
and Power hair-tearing and implications to ancient deities but also some
damn fine squash. It was a game Palmer should have won easily having led
9-6 but Power hit a couple of beauties and Palmer missed the easiest of
drops to make the score 9-9. A no let against Palmer gave Power match
ball and then Power hit the tin while running to return a finely placed
cross court.
A tie-break in the fifth? It must be J.Power. But this time the North
Americans were disappointed; Palmer hit an inch-perfect drop shot that
even Power could not pick up to reach match ball and then Power drove
the ball into the tin - to be followed by his racket. Palmer had won the
closest of contests and showed the world that he could control his temper
regardless of how many times his opponent ran into his back.
2005 TOC QUARTERFINAL
RESULTS:
WOMEN
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt [6] Rebecca Macree (ENG)9-1, 3-9, 7-9, 9-3,
9-4 (66mins)
[8]Vicky Botwright (ENG)bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-1, 9-4, 6-9, 9-1 (50mins)
MEN
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt Jonathon Power (CAN) 11-9,4-11, 11-8, 4-11,
11-10 (2-1) (92 mins)
[1]Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Nick Matthew (ENG) 8-11, 11-0, 7-2 withdrew.
(34mins)
 |
| Rebecca
Botwright defeated qualifier Jenny Duncalf in the second late night
women's quarter-final. |
 |
| A
rare miss for top seed Thierry Lincou. |
 |
  |
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| Drama
galore in the Palmer vs Power match. Below Palmer cheers a ref decision. |
  |
