The tournament was kicked off by the every avuncular Hashim Khan in blazer and tie, hitting the first ball to Jonathon Power.

The first match pitched Derek Ryan world number 10, against Mark Cairns, and it was not a good advertisement for the game.

Cairns has had a distinguished career for England and is enjoying something of a revival, but Ryan should never have allowed him to push him to five games.

BRILLIANT START, LOUSY FINISH

Ryan started brilliantly covering the court like a tall blanket and not allowing Cairns room to breathe. His height allowed him to stretch for seemingly impossible retrievals The first game was his easily 15-6 and it all just fell apart. And Cairns took the second just as easily. The squash was not of the highest order and there was much hacking to the back of the court as Ryan allowed Cairns to dictate the pace.

The third and fourth games were interminable with Ryan showing only flashes of his attacking game. Cairn went 2-1 up Ryan levelled and then took the fifth 15-ll.

YOUNG AUSSIE TURKS

The following match was a total contrast; two of Australia's ample crop of newcomers, Paul Price and Joseph Kneipp, showed the way the game should be played and just how exciting it can be. It was like going from black and white slow motion to color at speed. Wonderful attacking squash from both players and Kneipp demonstrating that although he is ranked at only 35th in the world, he was the equal of Price who is ranked 8.

WINNERS GALORE

Price took the first game 15-12 and then lost the next 13,-15. He forged ahead by winning the third by the same score only to see Kneipp come roaring back to win the four 15-12. Paul Price had Rodney Martin in his corner and before the 5th game Martin was speaking as fast as his tongue could move. The fifth was a disappointment as Kneipp lost his composure, gave away far too many points and lost it 7-15 in under nine minutes.

"It was a mental loss more than physical. I know Paul was just as tired as me. I was thinking about my technique, which is wonderful if it works, but if it doesn't you lose," said Kneipp, who has had a brilliant two weeks.

THE NEW PAKISTANI STAR

Amjad Khan is the name to remember, the Pakistani player who will replace Jansher at the top level. He is a fearless shotmaker and wonderfully deceptive. He quite deservedly led Simon Parke, ranked at four, 2/1. There were some unforgettable rallies with Parke demonstrating yet again his agility and speed to come back from impossible situations. At 13-all in the fourth it looked decidedly shaky for Parke and the eager Khan tried two winners too many to give Parke the fourth game.

EXPERIENCE PAYS

With Parke leading 4-1 in the fifth, Amjad's head dropped and from then on Parke allowed his experience to hold him steady as his opponent went for hopeless winners. Parke has been there so many times before while Amjad, who is being coached by Jansher and Mohibullah, is young, but with mountains of promise. Parke took the fifth 15-7 and said he had been worried for ten days, a knee injury had been nursed for that period and he felt he was not match sharp

Hashim told me that Amjad was easily the best of the young Pakistanis but made two mistakes. "He hurry his shot and hit the tin and he does not put opponent in back of court."

NIGHTMARE

Those first three matches were a bit of a nightmare for the organisers, all going to five games and putting the schedule hopelessly behind. The last match saw John White beat Lee Beechill in three (mercifully), so that the ticket holders for the second sessions due to start at 5pm could not get in until nearly 6.30.

There were good crowds from the beginning and it looks likely that this event will become a major attraction for New Yorkers in the coming years.