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FULL US OPEN
COVERAGE |
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US Open 2004, 17-21
September, Boston
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 21-Sep-04:
Beachill Blasts
to Boston Bonus
Lee Beachill triumphed in the all-English final to wrest the US Open title
and the world number one position from Peter Nicol ...
Colleen Turner reports
Fitz Fired up in Symphony Hall
The evening started with a ladies exhibition match featuring retired WISPA
Tour veteran Sarah Fitz-Gerald and number-four-ranked Natalie Grainger of
the U.S.
Sarah prevailed, two games to love, but what should be noted is the ladies
played to 11 with a lowered tin (two inches below the normal 19" for ladies)
- an excellent game by anyone's standard with the new men's PSA scoring and
the same 17" tin placement.
Changing of the Guard ...
 It
was the proverbial changing of the guard in Bean Town, tonight. In game one
of the final match on the US Open, number-two-ranked Lee Beachill of
England bested world number one, Peter Nicol.
Beachill went up as high as 9-5 in the first game, the evergreen Nicol came
back to take three more points, but it was not enough ... Beachill took the
game 11-8.
In game two, Nicol went up 3-0, but Beachill could sense that this was his
time to change the pecking order between our two British friends. Beachill
not only came back, but brought the score to 6-all. That brought we
spectators to the rally that would never end ... an incredible two-minute
affair that ended with a score of 7-all. A couple of shots to the tin by
Nicol let Beachill take the game 11-9 in just 15 minutes.
 In
game three, Nicol needed to get busy, but a 7-0 lead by Beachill made that
virtually impossible. Nicol managed to take the serve at 1-7, and squeaked
out a quick six to make it 7-8, but a shot to the tin let Beachill take the
serve at 9-7. Peter came back again to make it 8-9. He then drove Beachill
into the tin again and brought the score to 9-all. An amazing effort by
Nicol landed him on the floor, but it also let Beachill take a 10-9 lead and
serve at match ball.
Beachill's Precious Point
A pitiful stroke call from the refs to Beachill gave him the match and the
Open, and with it the world number one position come the October rankings.
Post match, the ever-classy Nicol shared: "Lee deserved the win. He was too
good in the first and second games. I did manage to get in there in the
third, but felt a little burned by that last call."
Ultimately, Peter noted, Lee was a bit sharper and settled down a more than
he did.
Beachill, equally gracious, noted, "Peter was great in the first two games,
but good things come to those who wait. I felt well in the third and even
thought my foot was hanging off [from blisters], I'm pleased with the
outcome."
 As the
reporter, it was a great tournament all-round and, mark my words, this
result is the start of a new regime in the top 10 of squash.
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FULL US OPEN
COVERAGE
En Français
FINAL
[2] Lee Beachill
(Eng) bt
[1] Peter Nicol (Eng)
11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (42m)
Women's Exhibition:
Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt
Natalie Grainger (USA)
11-10 (2-0), 11-9
FULL DRAW
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US Open Squash 2004, $50k
Qualifying Draw
Pre-Qualifying |
1st
Round
Fri/Sat 17th/18th |
Quarters
Sun 19th Sep |
Semis
Mon 20th Sep |
Final
Tue 21st Sep |
[1] Peter Nicol (Eng)
8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 (55m)
Anthony Ricketts (Aus) |
Peter Nicol
11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-8 (43 m)
Nick Matthew |
Peter Nicol
11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
Joseph Kneipp |
Peter Nicol
11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (42m)
Lee Beachill |
[7] Nick Matthew (Eng)
11-3, 11-9, 11-8 (44m)
[Q] Renan Lavigne (Fra) |
[3] Thierry Lincou (Fra)
9-11, 10-11 (2-4), 11-3, 11-7, 11-1 (66m)
[Q] Simon Parke (Eng) |
Simon Parke
11-4, 11-9, 11-8 (42m)
Joseph Kneipp |
[8] Joseph Kneipp (Aus)
11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (33m)
Omar Elborolossy (Egy) |
[Q] Dan Jenson (Aus)
11-7, 11-9, 11-1 (39m)
[5] John White (Sco) |
Dan Jenson
9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 (45m)
David Palmer |
David Palmer
5-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 (64m)
Lee Beachill |
James Willstrop (Eng)
11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
[4] David Palmer (Aus) |
Graham Ryding (Can)
6-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-8 (50m)
[6] Amr Shabana (Egy) |
Graham Ryding
11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (40m)
Lee Beachill |
[Q] Peter Barker (Eng)
11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 11-4 (47m)
[2] Lee Beachill (Eng) |
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** at Murr Centre Fri
17th, ++ Symphony Hall Sat 18th |
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Qualifying Draw
(Murr Centre & Boston Racquet Club) |
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Round ONE, Wed 15th |
Round TWO, Thu 16th |
Renan Lavigne (FRA)
11-5, 11-4, 11-5
Michael Puertas (USA) |
Q Renan Lavigne Q
9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Shahier Razik |
Mark Heather (ENG)
11-10 (6-4), 11-9, 11-9
Shahier Razik (CAN) |
Shahid Zaman (PAK)
11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (4-2),
10-11 (3-1), 3-11, 11-10 (2-0)
Joey Barrington (ENG) |
Q Joey Barrington Q
11-7, 11-3, 11-9
Dan
Jenson |
Julian Illingworth (USA)
11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-7
Dan Jenson (AUS) |
Olli Tuominen (FIN)
5-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-6
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) |
Q Olli Tuominen Q
11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Peter Barker |
Peter Barker (ENG)
11-8, 11-4, 11-2
Parth Doshi (IND) |
Simon Parke (ENG)
11-7, 11-5, 11-8
Preston Quick (USA) |
Q Simon Parke Q
9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
Paul
Price |
Dylan Patterson (USA)
11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Paul Price (AUS) |
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PRE-Qualifying - winner to enter
main qualifying |
Round One
Wed 8th |
Quarters
Thu 9th |
Semis
Sat 11th |
Final
Thu 14th |
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Vineet Asthana
bye |
Vineet Asthana
11-9, 10-11 (3-1), 11-9, 11-2
Parth Doshi
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Parth Doshi
11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-7
Dylan Patterson |
Vineet Asthana
11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5
Tyler Hinderman |
Jason Hicks
10-11 (0-2), 5-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
Mark Froot |
Jason Hicks
10-11 (4-2), 11-7,
8-11, 11-9, 11-5
Parth Doshi |
Parth Doshi
11-3, 11-6, 11-4
Todd Ostrow |
Mark Lewis
4-11, 11-5, 10-11 (3-1), 11-4, 11-7
Dave Adams |
Mark Lewis
11-9, 11-8, 11-7
Mike Semprucci |
Mark Lewis
11-7, 11-4, 11-5
Dylan Patterson |
Mike Semprucci
10-11 (2-0), 11-9, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0)
Chessin Gertler |
Pat Malloy
11-3, 11-3, 11-5
Chris Smith |
Pat Malloy
11-7, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0)
Dylan Patterson |
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