Nicol, Power set up title clash

By Raju Chainani

NEW YORK, FEB. 9. The world top two have set up a mouthwatering final encounter in the CSFBdirect Tournament of Champions. Top seeded Scot Peter Nicol beat Australia's Paul Price 15-12, 15-13, 15-9 in 42 minutes whilst defending champion Jonathon Power (Canada) had a 44 minute 15-8, 15-9, 15-11 scoreline against Welshman David Evans.

Price led 9-7 in the opener and 6-3 in the second. Nicol was content to play the Pied Piper, float the ball deep and wait for the errors. The Aussie found the tin nine times in the opener and five times in the second. This was not par for the course as the Scottish southpaw kept up a nagging length and when under pressure, responded with the venom that only a world champion could.

He showed it as he drew level at 9-9 in the first game, forcing three errors from his opponent and again in the second, where a whipped forehand pass at 10-11 from a seemingly difficult position helped him draw level. The Aussie was caught out with a forehand boast which gave Nicol gameball and could just about get his racket frame to a backhand crosscourt on the next rally.

Jonathon Power was in his element. He was flicking the ball, wrong-footing his opponent and never looked as if he would lose this semifinal. The Canadian led 8-3 in the opener which he wrapped up in 13 minutes, an arrogant backhand drop ending this game. As if to show he was capable of making errors, he was 3-6 down in the second.

Then came the breeze from Maple Leaf country, cutting but delightful like the Manhattan weather. Power took control and went to 8-6 with a sliced backhand which rolled off the nick. He won six of the last seven points in this game, the wristy racketwork proving to much for his Welsh opponent.

Evans led 6-4 in the third but the avalanche that followed was decisive. 12-7 to Power, courtesy a daredevil backhand drop from the deep and the end was soon to come came as a forehand crosscourt volley left his opponent stranded. Power had been good value for his win and had repeated his straight games scoreline against the Welshman in November's U.S.Open.

The results: Peter Nicol bt Paul Price 15-12, 15-13, 15-9; Jonathon Power bt David Evans 15-8, 15-9, 15-11.

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