Thierry Lincou Wins PST Pittsburgh As David Palmer Retires In The Fifth
from DailySquashReport.com

November 12, 2012 - David Palmer was forced to retire with a back injury yesterday after knotting the championship match at 2-all, giving Thierry Lincou the 2012 PST Pittsburgh Open title.

Palmer pulled out an overtime fourth game to keep the proceedings alive but couldn't stay on the court for the fifth. He had received medical treatment following the third game.

The final tally for the Frenchman was 11-13 14-12 11-7 10-12, retired.

In semifinal action Palmer got past Bradley Ball 11-7 in the fourth, while Lincou beat Wade Johnstone, also 11-7 in the fourth game.

Lincou was quoted as calling his semi: "a good mix between intensity and a good show."

Next up for the PST is the November 24-26th Boston Open, to be staged at the Murr Center on the campus of Harvard University.

PST media files this report:

November 11, 2012 - Thierry Lincou beat David Palmer to win the Pittsburgh Open at the Rivers Club in the heart of the city's downtown.
 
"Palmer came to Pittsburgh nursing a back injury sustained earlier in the week in a training match," said PST Commissioner Joe McManus. "He played brilliantly during the weekend, but the cumulative impact of intense play took its toll."
 
Lincou, in contrast, was magnificent throughout. He is in magnificent condition and was moving as nimbly as ever around the court.
 
The fans in Pittsburgh were enthralled by the world class squash back on their courts. Both Lincou and Palmer had come through Pittsburgh early in their careers on the PSA tour. They returned to the Rivers Club as legends of the game, and the room was electric when they took the court for the championship match.

Three of the first four games were decided by extra points. Palmer was shooting hitting some and missing some. Lincou was steady.
 
Between games three and four, Palmer took some treatment on his back. In game five, Palmer took an early 2-1 lead, but winced noticably at the end of the rally. He turned to Thierry and shook his hand, indicating that he could not continue.
 
Lincou, ever the gentleman was complimentary of his longtime rival. "A real shame that David had to retire early . . . we were having another great battle. But the fans enjoyed great squash throughout the weekend, and that is what's important."
 
In the third place match, Wade Johnstone beat Bradley Ball 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4.

Fans who stayed late to get a photo with the champion

Semi-Final Results
Thierry Lincou beat Wade Johnstone 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7
David Palmer beat Bradley Ball 4-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7

Quarter Final Results
Wade Johnstone beat Josh Cardwell: 13-11, 11-7, 11-9
Bradley Ball beat Bradbury Thompson: 11-5, 11-1, 11-6            
Thierry Lincou beat Adrian Leanza: 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
David Palmer beat Alex Grayson: 11-6, 11-7, 11-8

Friday Match Results                                                              
Alex Grayson beat Ian Sly 11-5, 13-11, 11-8            
Bradbury Thompson beats Steven Baicker-McGee 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
Alex Reynolds beat Josh Cardwell 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
Adrian Leanza beat Mick Joint 11-7, 9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8
Wade Johnstone beat George Satler 11-1, 11-1, 11-4
 
Alex Grayson and Ian Sly opened the evening with a cleanly played match. Though Grayson won smoothly, Sly earned a lot of fans with his gentlemanly play.
 
Brad Thompson beat local favorite Steven Baicker-McGee in three. But Baicker-McGee received the lions' share of fan support.
 
Though new recruit Josh Cardwell won in three over teenager Alex Reynolds, PST Commissioner McManus thinks he discovered a future star with Reynolds.
 
The match of the night was Joint v. Leanza. Joint controlled the pace of play throughout much of the match. And he certainly could have closed out the match in game four when he had an early lead. However, Leanza's legendary fitness won the day.
 
Wade Johnstone moved comfortably past local icon George Satler in three games.

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