WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: US Open Squash Championship, Boston, USA

Final:
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt [1] Peter Nicol (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (42m)

World No1 Ranking Is Beachill's Boston Bonus

A new era in world squash has been unveiled at the Symphony Hall in Boston where England's Lee Beachill defeated world No1 Peter Nicol in straight games in the first all-English final of the US Open.  Not only does the 26-year-old from Pontefract in Yorkshire become the US Open champion for the first time in his career, but he will now also succeed his England team-mate as No1 in the Dunlop PSA World Rankings on 1st October.

Beachill led 9-5 in the first game, but the evergreen Nicol came back to take three more points - but it was not enough as the Yorkshireman took the game to go one up.

Roles were reversed in the second game and Nicol went up 3-0, but it was a changing of the guard for the English pair.  Beachill not only came back, but brought the score to six-all.  That signalled a rally that would never end - an incredible two-minute affair that ended with a score at seven-all.  A couple of tinned shots by Nicol let the second seed take his second game in just 15 minutes. 

In game three, Nicol needed to reassert his authority, but a 7-0 lead by Beachill made that almost impossible.   The favourite managed to take the serve at 1-7, and squeaked out a quick six points to make it 7-8, but another shot to the tin let Beachill take the serve at 9-7. 

Peter came back again to make it 8-9, but a tinned shot by Beachill brought the score to nine-all.  An amazing effort by Nicol landed him on the floor, but it also let Beachill take a 10-9 lead and serve for the match.  A dubious stroke call for Beachill gave him the match 11-8 11-0 11-9 and the US Open title after 42 minutes.

After the match, the ever-generous Nicol said:  "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.

"But Lee was a bit more edgy and settled back more than I did," agreed the top seed.

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 though my foot was hanging off [from blisters], I'm pleased with the outcome."

The victory brings Beachill's career PSA Tour title haul to seven since winning his first trophy in Canada six years ago.  The triumph also comes at the end of a remarkably consistent nine-month run in which he has appeared in four PSA finals - winning them all, against the seeding!

Both Beachill and Nicol will now be turning their attention on the 2004 British Open, which gets underway at the end of next month in Nottingham.  The two are certain to be seeded to meet in the final, but for the first time ever it will be Nicol who will be assuming the role of 'underdog'.