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 28-Sep,
Final:
Barker does it again
England's Peter Barker collected his second title in quick
succession, following up his win in Chicago by adding the Baltimore
title, and scoring a repeat win over David Palmer in the final.
In Chicago Barker won in straight games but Palmer, who was
appearing in his 50th tour final, proved a sterner opponent this
time around as the match went the full distance.
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Palmer eyes half-century
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 Merritt
Properties Open 2008
Baltimore, Usa, 23-28
Sep, $40k |
Round One
25-Sep |
Quarters
26-Sep |
Semis
27-Sep |
Final
28-Sep |
[1] David Palmer
(Aus)
11/3, 11/8, 11/6
[Q] Chris Gordon (Usa) |
[1] David Palmer
11/3, 9/11, 11/1, 11/8 (60m)
[7] Omar Mosaad |
[1] David Palmer
8/11, 7/11, 11/3, 11/7, 11/8
[4] Olli Tuominen |
[1] David Palmer
7/11, 11/7, 11/4, 2/11, 11/8
[2] Peter Barker |
[7] Omar Mosaad
(Egy)
11/6, 11/9, 11/6
[Q] Chris Simpson (Eng) |
[4] Olli Tuominen
(Fin)
11/4, 9/11, 11/3, 11/8
[Q] Jon Harford (Eng) |
[4] Olli Tuominen
w/o
[8] Hisham Ashour |
[8] Hisham Ashour
(Egy)
11/5, 11/9, 12/10
Lefika Regontse (Bot) |
Alister Walker
(Eng)
8/11, 11/5, 12/10, 11/7
[8] Shahier Razik (Can) |
Alister Walker
11/5, 11/8, 11/5 (40m)
[3] Stewart Boswell |
Alister Walker
11/9,11/6,11/8
[2] Peter Barker |
[Q] Liam Kenny (Irl)
11/2, 11/6, 11/6
[3] Stewart Boswell (Aus) |
Eric Galvez (Mex)
11/9, 11/13, 11/3, 11/5
[5] John White (Sco) |
[5] John White
12/10, 11/3, 10/12, 11/7 (72m)
[2] Peter Barker |
Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy)
11/5, 11/7, 13/11
[2] Peter Barker (Eng) |
Qualifying
Finals, 25-Sep:
Liam Kenny bt Gilly Lane
11-7,9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-5
Chris Gordon bt David Phillips
11-3, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9
Johathan Harford bt Wade Johnstone
10-12, 11-2, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7
Chris Simpson bt John Rooney
11-6, 11-7,5-11,11-4
Qualifying Round One, 24-Sep:
Liam Kenny bt Lazarus Chiluba Chilufya 11-5, 11-6,
11-4
Gilly Lane bt Patrick Chifunda
11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-0
Chris Gordon bt Regardt Schonborn
11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9
David Phillips bt T.G Raubenheimer
11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Johathan Harford bt Matthew Karwalski 11-8,
11-8, 16-14
Wade Johnstone bt Ben Garner
16-14, 11-9, 11-8,
Chris Simpson bt Lekgotla Mosope
11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10
John Rooney bt Ryan Cuskelly
3-1 - 108 minutes, just amazing!
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26-Sep-08:
draw & Q/F results
Found One in Baltimore
Lefika Ragontse reports
Eric Galvez was ready to play John White, last time they played in
an exhibition match Eric managed to take two games from John. John
arrived a few hours before and had not gone on court to warm at all,
since he is older and has had such great success, we have to respect
that.
The first game was extremely exciting John was attacking the front
court and Eric was picking everything up. It looked like the older
more experienced player was dictating play. Eric was hanging in and
at 5-5 he got distracted by the REf and he lost a couple of points
that cost him the first game. But the second he came back and
eliminated opening the court up and managed to win the game.
The next two John picked up the pace and showed all of us why he is
still such a good player. The shots selection was unexpected by the
player and spectators. John won 11-9,13-11,11-3,11-5.
Peter Barker played Omar Abdel Aziz. Peter looked so comfortable on
court and it seemed like it was going be a quick match, Aziz got
cofortable with the pace in the second and made the game very
interesting but Peter confidence from last weeks win over David
Palmer made him look unbeatable he won 11-5,11-7, 13-11.
Alister Walker vs Shahier Razik, Shahier a really strong first game
dominating Alister, Shahier went 8-4 in the first and it looked as
if he was going to have an easy day. Alister started to find his
length later and the match got more interesting. Even though Alister
lost the first game you could feel the momentum change. The game was
starting to get physical and the Ref was being bullied by the
players. Shahier won the first 8-11, Alister came back more
aggresive and started to volley the ball. This kept Shahier back and
forced him to go short early. The boys continued to play a hard but
Alister managed to cause the first upset of the tournament by
beating the sixth seed Shahier 8-11,11-5,12-10,12-7.
Next on Was Stewart Boswell vs Liam Kenny, The first game Stewart
was simple to consitent, Liam began to feel more comfortable and
made a great effort to hold Stewart off but he was to good. Stewart
won 11-2,11-6,11-6.
Then the wild card Lefika Ragontse jumped on court with the talented
Hisham Ashour and the first game Hisham dominated and won it with
relative ease, in the second Lefika got an early lead after slowing
the game down. Hisham suddenly picked the pace back up and hit some
amazing shots and snuck by the second game. The game more
enteresting with both players attacking the front court. But the
Hisham was clearly better in the fron court and won the match
11-5,11-9,12-10.
Then David Palmer came on court and his presence made everyone in
the gallery exctied and Christopher Gordan looked relaxed and ready
to play. In the first David kept control and everyone could see why
he had won so many tournament the man is just really great at what
he does and so proffesional, he won 11-3,11-8,11-6.
Omar Mosaad vs Chris Simpson, Chris never looked comfortable on
court and Omar looked like he was getting ready for Palmer. He won
11-6,11-9,11-6.
Olli Tuminen played John Harford and Olli played at unbelievable
pace and John harford empressed evryone by fight really hard. But
Olli was to fit and ready to run alot longer. The players looked
very good and were exteremly nice on court. This was a great match
to watch. Olli won 11-4,9-11,11-3, 11-8.
We have great matches coming up ...
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Palmer eyes half-century
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24-Sep-08:
draw & results
Qualifying in Baltimore
Lefika Ragontse reports
The qualifying draw is now over and the event all of Baltimore has
been waiting for is finally here. The matches on Tuesday and
Wednesday were so very interesting.
 The players were all really eager and ready for a great battle. The
thought of travelling so far and not making it, the thought of
having your home crowd take time out of they day to come and support
you. The pain all players go through training, raising funds to
travel and working with coaches. All of this was on the line.
The Baltimore crowd has never had a draw so strong. The juniors have
all they heroes people they read about living with them. Baltimore
feels blessed and the excitement to watch really good squash has now
come.
 We have the two former worlds no 1 (David Palmer, John White). Peter
Barker coming from his biggest win ever beating David Palmer in
Chicago. Mr Boswell the man that reached no 4 always ready to play.
Alister Walker the juniors have come to love him in Baltimore is
playing another Baltimore favourite the running man Shahier Razik
first round. Both players played in the final last year and people
are shocked to be watching such good squash so early.
Who is going to win? If the qualifying was an indication no one
knows.
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Palmer eyes half-century
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Qualifying Finals:
Lefika Regontse
reports
Wade Johnstone has a great following in Baltimore he got on
court with great confidence and determination. John Harford was
ready for the battle and a battle it was. Both men over 6 feet
were playing at a really high pace and the crowd were amazed.
The pace seemed to have gotten to both the players in the last
game but Harford had the extra push and made sure he qualified.
Gilly lane played Liam Kenny, all the players were very
impressed at the progress Gilly Lane has made since basing
himself in Holland. But Liam has been playing squash for a long
time and he knows how to win. That was the difference, they
played beautiful squash but Mr Kenny used is great knowledge of
the game to overcome Gilly.
Next on was Chris Simpson and John Rooney, Chris just played
very good tactical squash, he seemed very comfortable and has
been focused to come back strong from his injury. He wants to
prove to himself that he belongs with the top players and is
looking forward to playing tomorrow.
David Palmer plays Chris Gordon, Omar Masaad plays Chris
Simpson, Johnathan Harford plays Olli, Stewart Boswell plays
Liam Kenny,
2007 Event
2006 Event |
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23-Sep-08:
Palmer eyes half
century
Howard
Harding reports on a potential milestone ...
David Palmer is
seeded to win this week's Merritt Properties Open in the USA
– and, if the world number five from Australia reaches the final of
the $40,000 championship in Baltimore, it will mark his 50th
appearance in the climax of a PSA Tour squash event.
The 32-year-old from Lithgow in New
South Wales has enjoyed an illustrious career since joining the
PSA in 1994 - winning World Open
titles in 2002 and 2006; becoming world number one in September
2001; and - just four months ago - clinching his fourth British
Open crown. With a total of 23 PSA titles to his name, Palmer
boasts more Tour successes than any other current player.
Now based in Boston in the USA, Palmer
was runner-up in the Sweet Home Chicago Open - the first
squash tournament in the USA to be held outdoors - earlier this
month.
Palmer
reached his first final at the Kleenheat Open in Perth,
Australia, in September 1995, before going on to claim his maiden
title two years later at the Ecuador Open in South America.
The distinguished Australian, who broke into the
world top 20 in 1999, has maintained an unbroken presence in the
world top ten since September 2000, concedes
that achieving his half century this week will not be
straightforward.
 "I
didn't realise that it was my 49th final
last week! I don't pay so much attention anymore to these details as
I used to when I was younger and chasing points in tournaments to
raise my ranking.
"But I am proud of this achievement. I think making so many finals
over the last ten years has shown my strength and consistency on the
Tour, which reflects back to the training and coaching I received
from Shaun (Moxham) over the years.
"I still remember that first win in
Ecuador in 97, not only for the win but that was the same day as
Princess Diana died, and we had a minute's silence before the
final."
 "For
my career highlights, it's hard to go past my two
World Open wins and this year's win at the British Open as my best
wins.
"It would be nice to make it number 50 this week in Baltimore, but
it won't be easy. There are a lot of good players in the draw,
including John White, Stewart Boswell and Peter Barker - who beat me
last week in the final at Chicago, which ended up a great tournament
when the rain stopped, with the glass court outside in the city.
"But I'm looking forward to playing in Baltimore this week and
getting some more hard matches in the lead up to the World Open in
Manchester in a few weeks."
The Merritt Properties Open gets underway
at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore on Thursday 25
September following two days of qualifying. Palmer faces a
qualifier in the first round and is expected to meet second seed
Peter Barker, the Englishman who beat him in the Chicago climax,
in the final on Sunday.
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