Palmer Eyes Tour Half Century In Baltimore

David Palmer is seeded to win this week's Merritt Properties Open in the USA - and, if the world number five from Australia reaches the final of the $40,000 championship in Baltimore, it will mark his 50th appearance in the climax of a PSA Tour squash event.

The 32-year-old from Lithgow in New South Wales has enjoyed an illustrious career since joining the Professional Squash Association in 1994 - winning World Open titles in 2002 and 2006; becoming world number one in September 2001; and - just four months ago - clinching his fourth British Open crown. With a total of 23 PSA titles to his name, Palmer boasts more Tour successes than any other current player.

Now based in Boston in the USA, Palmer was runner-up in the Sweet Home Chicago Open - the first squash tournament in the USA to be held outdoors - earlier this month.

"I did not realise that it was my 49th final last week! I don't pay so much attention anymore to these details as I used to when I was younger and chasing points in tournaments to raise my ranking," explained Palmer, who reached his first final at the Kleenheat Open in Perth, Australia, in September 1995, before going on to claim his maiden title two years later at the Ecuador Open in South America.

"But I am proud of this achievement. I think making so many finals over the last ten years has shown my strength and consistency on the Tour, which reflects back to the training and coaching I received from Shaun (Moxham) over the years."

"I still remember that first win in Ecuador in 97, not only for the win but that was the same day as Princess Diana died, and we had a minute's silence before the final."

The highlights of Palmer's career? "It's hard to go past my two World Opens wins and this year's win at the British Open as my best wins."

The distinguished Australian, who broke into the world top 20 in 1999, has maintained an unbroken presence in the world top ten since September 2000! But Palmer concedes that achieving his half century this week will not be straightforward:

"It would be nice to make it number 50 this week in Baltimore, but it won't be easy. There are a lot of good players in the draw, including John White, Stewart Boswell and Peter Barker - who beat me last week in the final at Chicago, which ended up a great tournament when the rain stopped, with the glass court outside in the city.

"But I'm looking forward to playing in Baltimore this week and getting some more hard matches in the lead up to the World Open in Manchester in a few weeks," concluded Palmer.

The Merritt Properties Open gets underway at the Merritt Athletic Club in Baltimore on Thursday (25 September) following two days of qualifying. Palmer faces a qualifier in the first round and is expected to meet second seed Peter Barker, the Englishman who beat him in the Chicago climax, in the final on Sunday

1st round draw:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier
[7] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Qualifier
[4] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Qualifier
[8] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) v Lefika Ragontse (BOT)
[6] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Alister Walker (ENG)
[3] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Qualifier
[5] John White (SCO) v Eric Galvez (MEX)
[2] Peter Barker (ENG) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)