The squash world was shocked last week by the unexpected
retirement announcement by world #1 Jonathon
Power of Canada who was also #1 seed in this year’s Virtual Spectator
Bermuda Masters 2006, scheduled to be played from 2nd –8th April at the
BHS Jessie Vesey Sports Centre.
The PSA swung into action this week, adjusting the seedings and finalizing
the new draw.
The new #1 seed is the current World Open Champion, Amr Shabana of
Egypt, who is on brilliant form at the moment, and the #2 seed is
Anthony Ricketts of Australia, winner of last year’s British Open.
Both of these players will be very hard to beat, but they will be hard
pressed by a world class field all eager to take the title.
Under normal circumstances the replacement for Power would automatically
be the world #32 player because all those above him are already in the
tournament, but that position is held by former Bermuda Open and former
World Junior champion, Simon Parke, who is committed to compete in the
Irish Open, as are Renan Lavigne #33 and Davide Bianchetti #34, so the
extra player is world #35 Dan Jensen of Australia, a former world
#4.
Tournament organizers in Bermuda had been delighted with the original draw
which saw local qualifier, Nick Kyme world #71, facing Bermuda-based
Australian, David Palmer, now the #3 seed, who is also the current #1
ranked player as of the March PSA rankings.
Palmer enjoys a tremendous following on the Island, and by complete
coincidence these two are drawn against each other again, so local squash
fans will get to cheer both of their favourite players, and even if Palmer
manages to trounce Kyme he will still be guaranteed ardent support from
the “vocal locals” as he progresses through the tournament.
More information at:
www.squashsite.co.uk |
