Here is an attempt at a picture, the date and time is out of wack mind you.

Can we post into posts other than the opening post yet ?

Also it is much better if the picture goes below or above the text like this :http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=34562

 

This way it does not wrap the text around and you also post full width pictures.

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Viper - thanks for the blow by blow description of the matches.  It got me in.
Did you take your camera?  Squashgame would love to see a few photos posted and put into archives.
Sorry for being so pushy.
Enjoy.

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Thanks for the reports viper.

they are very much appreciated

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Finals:

Grinham v Pittock

Pretty easy win to Grinham apart from the second game which Pittock should have won, she was about 5 points up and then lost it, Pittock was too loose but she played some solid squash.

I also think she did not have the legs to keep up with "duracell"

Ricketts v Palmer

Ricketts in 3 in a tight match with lots of rallies and quality squash throughout.

Palmer lost his focus a number of times over some let calls, which in most cases were neither here nor there, this I think was to his detriment and it effected his game towards the end of the match.

I think it is time pros like this gave up attacking the ref, a call is never going to be reversed and the player has much more to loose by getting all fired up and loosing concentration, this cost Palmer today.

He was scathing of the ref both during the game and in his post match speech, bad form.

Ricketts has a second career awaiting him after he retires from squash - comedian, quite a sharp wit.

Both players really gave out about the heat in the court causing a sweaty floor and a number of tumbles, Ricketts in particular went down once very hard, for a minute it look like his leg was pointing at a unnatural angle, the crowd seemed to hold their breath until he rose to his pins, somewhat in the style of a new born foal I might add

Ricketts moves across the court like a spider, arms and legs in different directions.

Ricketts speech was very good and he rightly acknowledged how well the tournament was conducted.

I wonder what he does outside squash, he comes across as being very bright.

 

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Quote:

"Semi Finals day saw the top seeds through to the finals. However, both Anthony Ricketts and David Palmer found their respective opponents Stewart Boswell and Dan Jenson were not ready to give up the finals berth without a fight. In the first semi Anthony Ricketts took the first game. Then Stewart Boswell turned the tables taking the second. The third game became a hard fought affair with Ricketts succeeding 11/9. Ricketts then went on to win the fourth and the match. In the second semi Dan Jenson gave David Palmer a fright with a solid first game win. The second game was as close with Palmer being the victor 11/10 (2-0). Palmer then settled and took the next two games to win the match. Palmer will meet Ricketts in tomorrow's final which promises to be terrific contest.
The women's semi finals were more predictable. However, Kasey Brown did shake Amelia Pittock in the first game 9/5. Pittock took stock and then went on to take the next three games without any pressure. In the other women's semi final Rachael Grinham demonstrated that she was well over her jet lag travelling from Egypt when she defeated Melissa Martin in three games. Grinham will now face Pittock in tomorrows final. The detailed results were:
Men
David Palmer defeated Dan Jenson 8/11, 11/10 (2-0), 11/5, 11/8
Anthony Ricketts defeated Stewart Boswell 11/6, 5/11, 11/9, 11/6
Women
Rachael Grinham defeated Melissa Martin 9/1, 9/4, 9/3
Amelia Pittock defeated Kasey Brown 5/9, 9/0, 9/0, 9/4"

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Yes.

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i like these first hand reports viper!

good work!!

are you going to be there for the finals?

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Semi finals ::

Boswell v Ricketts -

Boswell hit it pretty well but is a clear step behind Ricketts, who looks in good touch. Does like to play games "Southside" of the court mind you.

Martin v Grinham -

No match here really, Grinham too strong, too fast and chases the ball big time, Martin has some nice touch but was never in the game, quite a lot of unforced errors and does not retrieve the hard ball anywhere near as well as RG.

Palmer v Jenson -

A real good game here especially early, Jenson certainly has the game to go far but he looked like he ran out of steam where as Palmer was cruising fitness wise.

Some great rallies but Palmer just had more shots, especially short.

Again Jenson likes to chatter a bit outside the fish bowl.

The last point was not to Jensons liking and he showed his displeasure by leaving the court and demonstrated with the ref, this was after Palmer had been awarded the match, Jenson then sent the ball with some force over the heads of the crowd and ref to dissapear into the black hole behind.

Emotional game is squash

I think Jenson will do some climbing in 2006.

 

My tip for the final :

Grinham in 3 over pittock and Ricketts and Palmer a toss of the coin, maybe Palmers injury might be the difference.

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Quote The Age:

"WORLD No. 4 and former squash world champion David Palmer overcame an injured ankle yesterday to cruise into the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The New South Welshman defeated Canberran Tim Manning 11-8 11-7 11-7 to set up a semi-final clash with South Australian fifth seed Dan Jenson.

The 2002 world champion, and three-time British Open winner, injured an ankle during the first point but recovered to win convincingly.

"I twisted my ankle in the first point of the match and had to come off," he said.

"I've got ice on to it now so it should pull up all right for tomorrow's match."

Palmer said he was looking forward to a possible clash in the final with NSW's world No. 3 Anthony Ricketts.

"If it eventuates, I'm sure it will be tough," he said.

"He has had a great last six months and is in great form. Either one of us could have finished No. 1 last year so it will be an old-fashioned arm wrestle."

Ricketts, last year's British Open champion, advanced to the semis by beating eighth seed Craig Roland who has put retirement plans on hold to compete in the event. Ricketts won 11-8 11-4 11-4.

Former world No. 1 Rachael Grinham, of Queensland, progressed to the semi-finals, beating Jan Miller 9-3 9-2 9-3.

Victorian Squash Federation executive director Paul Vear said the Open was the last chance for Australia's best to win a spot in the Commonwealth Games squad.

"It is the final selection trial for the Games," he said.

"It is a great build-up."

The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre will host the world doubles championships next week.

The final squad consisting of five men and five women will be announced at the end of the doubles championship which finishes on January 13.

Vear said the Australian team would be strong enough to win gold in March.

"We are in a pretty good position, especially with the men," Vear said.

But they can expect stiff competition from world No. 1 Canadian Jonathan Power at the Games. "

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"AUSTRALIAN Open squash favourites Anthony Ricketts and Rachael Grinham have breezed through to the semi-finals after straight-sets wins yesterday.

World No. 3 and 2005 British Open champion Ricketts will now meet long-time friend Stewart Boswell after defeating Craig Roland 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.

Ricketts, from NSW, and the ACT's Boswell are likely to provide the highlight of today's semi-finals.

Boswell, who was sidelined in 2004 and 2005 with a back problem, has won eight tournaments since April last year, in an impressive comeback that has lifted his world ranking to No. 20.

In the women's event, favourite Grinham will take on Melissa Martin in the semis after defeating Jan Miller in straight games.

The tournament has attracted some of the world's best players as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games, which begin in March at the same venue.

The Melbourne Sport and Aquatic Centre, sporting new floor surfaces and a new all-glass centre court, also will be the venue for next week's world doubles tournament."

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Caught the Palmer vers Manning match at the Australian Open today. Palmer in 3

My godness Palmer is in another gear completely to the average pro

Manning played some good squash but was never really in the match, this is inspite of Palmer injuring his ankle in the first game.

Appeared Palmer was playing within himself and had another level up his sleeve if required.

For such a big man he has nice touch around the court and does he move well !

The Tournament was running very well and the court and venue was excellent, full credit to the organisers.

It will be a great venue for the comm games I am sure.

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