WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic, BCE Place, Toronto, Canada

1st round:
Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [1] Peter Nicol (ENG) 15-13, 15-12, 4-15, 15-13
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Viktor Berg (CAN) 17-14, 15-7, 12-15, 15-7
[3] David Palmer (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 15-13, 17-16, 15-8
[8] Graham Ryding (CAN) bt [Q] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 15-10, 13-15, 15-7, 15-3
Mark Chaloner (ENG) bt [7] Martin Heath (SCO) 15-6, 15-3, 15-14
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [Q] Jan Koukal (CZE) 15-8, 15-6, 15-10
Paul Price (AUS) bt [5] Lee Beachill (ENG) 13-15, 15-10, 15-13, 17-15
[2] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Cameron White (AUS) 15-13, 15-5, 15-7

Elborolossy Elbows Out World No1 Nicol

In one of the most extraordinary results of the year, Egypt's unseeded Omar Elborolossy defeated world No1 and top-seeded Englishman Peter Nicol in the opening round of the Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic at BCE Place in Toronto.

It was only two weeks ago that Nicol claimed his 45th PSA Tour title in the Canadian Open in Edmonton, beating arch rival and local hero Jonathon Power in straight games in a 70-minute final.

But in an identical match time in Toronto, the world number twenty one-ranked Elborolossy overcame Nicol, the 2001 Canadian Classic champion, 15-13 15-12 4-15 15-13 to inflict the first opening round defeat on the favourite for more than two years.

Elborolossy, who has spent most of this year out of the world top twenty after reaching a career-high No14 last September, clearly dominated the first two games from the outset, preventing Nicol from controlling the play.  In game three, Nicol burst ahead and held his momentum to the 15th point.  In game four, both were fighting for control of the court, with Nicol facing surprise elimination.   When it was over, Elborolossy came off the court with arms in the air, the crowd giving him the ovation he deserved for slaying the top squash player on the planet.

"I am very happy with the way I played," Elborolossy said, grinning from ear to ear.  "I had a bad knee last season and my ranking dropped.  I am ranked 21 now and I know that I can play some good squash again.  My strategy tonight was simply to play my best.  The only good thing about playing Nicol in the opening round is that there is no pressure.  You just go and do your best and see how it goes. 

"In game three, I was a bit tired after the second.  In the fourth when I reached nine and ten, I could feel that he was under pressure.  He wasn't getting his shots.  He wasn't very confident.  That's when I felt I had the chance and I had to go for it."

A dejected Nicol said afterwards:  "It hasn't quite sunk in yet.  It's incredibly strange.  I feel like I'm just now ready to get going and take on the next round.   But there won't be a next round.  So being out is really bizarre.  It's strange not going to the director and asking for a practice time.

"I didn't play that well but I didn't play that badly.  Omar took it to me.  He kept it straight and tight.  I wanted to go short too quickly and win it too easily and that wasn't going to happen.  I should have been more patient, hit the ball deep and make him work a little more and then put it in.  I was making myself do more work and he was controlling the game," Nicol added.

Jonathon Power, defending his 2002 Canadian Classic title, took 49 minutes to win his opener against Czech qualifier Jan Koukal in three straight games in front of an almost capacity crowd. 

In another Classic shock, England's fifth seed Lee Beachill took the opening game against Paul Price, but eventually went down 13-15 15-10 15-13 17-15 to the unseeded Australian.