September 16, 2003
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Peter Nicol (England) defeated Thierry Lincou (France) 12, 12, 10
David Palmer (Australia) defeated Anthony Ricketts (Australia) (8), (5), 8, 7, 10
Next up, Final:
Nicol vs. Palmer, Tuesday, Sept. 16 @ 7:30 p.m. in Symphony Hall
In games one and two, Thierry Lincou played with incredible intensity and accuracy. But Nicol matched each point, even though Lincou worked him hard--standing virtually still on the T while Nicol chased balls short, long and deep into the corners. Nicol picked up the final three points of the game to take it in just 17 minutes. With his backhand bringing him nothing but tin in game two, Lincou lost focus as Nicol worked the right corner with no mercy. But until the end, Lincou put forth a great game and by no mean handed the match to Nicol. Post-game Lincou said, “After game one, Peter took control of the T and that was it.”
Peter Nicol heads to his fourth final match at the US Open. Commenting on his defeat of Lincou in three, Nicol shared, “I started out a bit inconsistent in my swing...sometimes long, sometimes short. But by the middle of game two, I felt complete focus and relaxed. As a result, I’m not too tired and ready for tomorrow’s finals.”
In the other semi, Anthony Ricketts was battling his fellow Aussie David Palmer. Approximately 14 minutes into game one, Ricketts took a commanding 11-5 lead and seemed unfazed by any return Palmer gave him, working his Palmer hard and taking the game 15-8. In game two, Ricketts again scooted to a 15-5 win. He took the lead two-love with barely a whimper from Palmer. “I was pushing the ball around too much and Anthony took control,” Palmer said post-match. “But somehow between games two and three, I honestly got a little better.”
And he did. Palmer hit a nice groove in the third, going up five-love to start. But that pesky Ricketts wouldn’t be squelched when he took the serve at 3-9 and quickly racked up three points. Palmer, however, persevered, earning his first win 15-8. Ricketts tried to regain control of game four. But Palmer was tough, holding the lead through 13, when an out call by the refs gave Palmer game ball, broke Ricketts’ patience and spirit, and earned David Palmer his second win.
Things heated up even further in game five as a slippery surface sent Ricketts sprawling on several occasions, costing desperately needed points. But the writing was on the wall when early in the game Palmer won a critical point to take the lead 6-3. Despite the score, Ricketts never really recovered and went down 15-10, bringing Palmer closer to consecutive US Open titles.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets start at just $20! For information, please call toll free 877.524.5685.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 16 from 7:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m., Exhibition & Finals
WHERE: Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
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