Shabana Shines As Ricketts Is Elbowed Out Of Grand Central Final

Egypt's world number one Amr Shabana successfully defended his title in the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions in New York - but his victory over 2005 champion Anthony Ricketts was far from the one either player, or the capacity crowd, were dreaming of as the Australian was forced to concede midway through the third game of the climax of the PSA Super Series event in its tenth year at Grand Central Terminal, with the recurrence of an elbow injury.

Despite the fact that Shabana knew that all was not right with Ricketts at the start of the match, the defending champion dropped the first game 7-11. "I was nervous," admitted the 27-year-old from Cairo. "I was hitting the ball too short. I had to remember that it was his arm and not his leg that was injured."

As soon as Shabana started getting the ball deeper in the court, he gained control of the match, winning the second game 11-3. Down 4-8 in the third, Ricketts gave the signal that he could not continue. "This is the first time that I have had to forfeit a match," said the dejected Australian. "I have been struggling with the elbow all week. I just couldn't hit the ball hard."

Shabana - who now boasts 16 career PSA Tour titles - becomes only the third player in the event's history to successfully defend the prestigious New York title, after four-times winner Jonathon Power, of Canada, in 1999, and England's three-times champion Peter Nicol five years later.

Inspired by the 10th anniversary of the Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions presenting the world's best squash players in Grand Central Terminal, celebrated American artist Frank Stella created sculptures for each of the tournament's champions - which were presented at the conclusion of the championship finals on the glass court. Stella, a devoted squash fan who helped promote the professional squash tour in New York City in the 1970s, said he wanted to pay special tribute to the 10-year milestone of North America's most prestigious championship being played in Grand Central.

"This is really very special," said Shabana upon receiving the sculptural trophy from the artist.

Earlier in the evening, Natalie Grainger defeated Vanessa Atkinson 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 to win the Bear Stearns Women's Challenge, a non-ranking invitational event which was following the same PAR scoring system as used by the men's event. "This is really a special week for me, having just become a US citizen and then winning here," said Grainger.

The native South African got off to a sluggish start, dropping the first game. But she picked up the pace, the length and her shot-making to take command of the match. Grainger, who perched atop the WISPA rankings briefly in 2003, was enthusiastic about her squash. "I am really feeling strong and I am adding some more variety and change of pace to my game. So I am having a lot of fun out on the court."

A permanent tournament trophy designed by Stella was presented at the awards ceremony to tournament director John Nimick. "I can think of nothing more fitting to celebrate these world-class athletes competing in one of the world's great landmarks than these extraordinary sculptures created by a great artist and a great supporter of our sport," said Nimick.

Final:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [7] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 7-11, 11-3, 8-4 ret. (29m)