Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006

International Press Release 07-April-2006 - Semi Finals Results

To: International Media
From: Roger J. Sherratt, Press Officer, Bermuda Squash Racquets Association
Date: 7th April 2006

Subject:

There was a possibility that squash history could have been made in Bermuda on semi-finals night of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 championship, if two brilliant young French players had triumphed to compete in the final of a major squash tournament for the first time (would that be correct Howard?). That vague hope was kept alive for the first 17 minutes of the clash between the world's #1 ranked player and current World Open Champion, Amr Shabana, and French phenomenon, former World Open Champion and world #1 Thierry Lincou.

Thierry Lincou v Amr Shabana
Lincou played exceptionally well in the first game, taking it 11-7, but then reality set in as Shabana rattled off 6 unanswered points in the second and never looked under pressure as he tightened his game and maintained his lead. It was 11-8 to Shabana. Mid-way through the third game it was clear that Shabana was in control, and a series of sustained rallies ended with either the Egyptian playing an immaculate drop, or with Lincou hitting the tin. This game ended abruptly when Shabana playing a cross court service return in the nick and walking quickly off court. He earlier had spectators in stitches when he disagreed with the referee a second time for refusing him a let and jokingly retorted "You owe me two strokes!"

There was no question that Lincou was having to cover far more court than the world #1, but even with Lincou playing his best squash in the 4th game he could not put Shabana under sufficient pressure to take the lead. With the score at 10-7 and match point to Shabana, Lincou refused to concede and forced the Egyptian into two unforced errors to bring the score to 10-9 and still match point. With neither player wanting to make a mistake, they played a series of four endless rallies, all ending with let ball. A further rally resulted in no let against Shabana to level the score at 10 all as he failed to get his racquet to a ball while reaching over Lincou. But after Shabana argued that he was not able to stop after physical contact he was awarded a let, and won the next point to take the match 3-1, and book his place in the final.

Said Shabana after the match, "Any time you beat Thierry it's a good win. When he controls the game he gives you very few openings, and you get lost trying to find a winner, which is what happened to me tonight. He started well, like he did the last couple of time we played, but I started getting in front of him in the second and thank God it was enough."

Peter Nicol v Gregory Gaultier
The skeptics questioned again whether Nicol would be up for a second successive tough match in two days after his brilliant demolition of David Palmer the previous night. Nicol had suffered a 3-2 loss to his French opponent just 7 weeks early in the New York Open, but 54 minutes later he had emphatically answered the question after a straight game win against the young Frenchman 11-5, 11-8, 11-5.

Nicol delighted the crowd, playing almost flawless squash throughout the match, constantly keep his young opponent on the move, and being content to wait for Gaultier to make mistakes. Gaultier led 4-1 in the first game, but after the scores leveled at 5-5 it was Nicol in the lead for the rest of the game and the match. It was not that Gaultier played badly; it was just that Nicol, who has announced his intention to retire later in the season, had the will to push himself to fight for every point. The final score was 11-5,11-8, 11-5. It remains to be seen if he can add the Bermuda title to his collection when he steps on court later today with the new world #1.

Said Nicol, "After the Commonwealth Games I felt mentally exhausted and emotionally gone, but physically I feel great. When I arrived here I was just thinking of getting to the first round and competing. Now I'm looking forward to tomorrow and then I'm taking a few weeks off. He (Amr) is a phenomenal talent and the man to beat. He's good for the game. I played him in the World Open in December and he took me apart. It will be great to have another crack at him."

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