WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: US Open Squash Championship, Boston, USA

Qualifying finals:
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
Dan Jenson (AUS) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-9
Peter Barker (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Simon Parke (ENG) bt Paul Price (AUS) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7

Parke Powers Back Into US Open Draw

England's Simon Parke fought back from a game down in his qualifying final against Australia's higher-ranked Paul Price to win a place in the main draw of the US Open Squash Championship in Boston - an event in which he has been a finalist five times and was once, in 1999, the champion.

Price, fresh from retaining the Santa Barbara Open title in California last week, took the opening game but the veteran Nottingham-based Yorkshireman ultimately survived the close-fought encounter 9-11 11-8 11-4 11-7.

Parke later thanked his friend and county team-mate Lee Beachill for keeping him focused and relaxed.  When asked where his energy came from, the 32-year-old Parke said: "Yes, I was a little off in that first game, but I got my second wind and felt great for the remainder of the match.  Beachy really helped with his advice."

In his first round match on Saturday, Parke will face France's Thierry Lincou, the in-form third seed who arrives in Boston after victories in his last two PSA Tour events - the Hong Kong Open and the Super Series Finals.

Another Englishman unexpectedly joins Parke in the main draw from the qualifiers.  Peter Barker, the world No36 from Essex, upset Finland's Olli Tuominen, ranked 11 places higher, 11-7 11-6 11-7 to set up a first round clash with Lee Beachill, the No2 seed.

The 2004 US Open has attracted a world-class field and gets underway today (Friday) at the Murr Centre in Boston before moving from Saturday onwards onto the all-glass court in the city's renowned Symphony Hall.

England's world No1 Peter Nicol is seeded to retain the title he won last year for the fourth time since 1994.  The former Scot takes on Australia's Anthony Ricketts in a repeat of their quarter-final meeting in last month's English Open.

Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA)
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Simon Parke (ENG)
[8] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Omar Elborolossy (EGY)
[5] John White (SCO) v [Q] Dan Jenson (AUS)
[4] David Palmer (AUS) v James Willstrop (ENG)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Graham Ryding (CAN)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [Q] Peter Barker (ENG)