Power Celebrates 60th PSA Final In Toronto

Canadian star Jonathon Power notched up another significant milestone in his illustrious career when he beat France's Gregory Gaultier in the semi-finals of the PACE Canadian Classic in Toronto to reach his 60th PSA Tour final, consolidating his status as the fourth most successful player of the modern era.

In the hottest contest on the international circuit today, the 31-year-old world No1 from Montreal will meet Egypt's world No2 Amr Shabana, the reigning world champion who despatched compatriot Karim Darwish in straight games.

Power's win was by no means easy and he had to work hard for 76 minutes before third seed Gaultier gave away points through sheer exhaustion. Power won the first 19-minute game 11-8, stopped a Gaultier comeback to win the second 11-9, and then lost a lung-busting third game 9-11 which lasted 29 minutes, easily the longest game of the entire tournament in the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The Frenchman knows Power's game and knew how to counter his backhand drops, constantly driving them across the court. He also put in some fine deception of his own to force Power out of position.

Power had jammed the small finger of his left hand against Gaultier and took a three-minute injury break after the third game to have it strapped. The break didn't do him any harm and he came back for the fourth, firing on all cylinders and, as he saw Gaultier's obvious fatigue, he started utilising in his patented backhand drops, forcing some tired errors from Gaultier. That famous backhand drop shot gave Power the match-winning point after 10 minutes of the game, placing him in his historic final after an 11-8 11-9 9-11 11-4 scoreline.

It was a red-eyed, tired Power who spoke to the press later: "It was my hardest match tonight - Gaultier is always tough to play. He doesn't like to give anything away. Sure, I'll be stiff tomorrow, but that's normal. I know Shabana's game and he knows mine. I will have to move well against him or I'll be in trouble. Amr is a shooter, so I have to get on the ball quickly and counter-punch," Power said.

It took Amr Shabana just 31 minutes to subdue the second best player in Egypt and advance to his 15th PSA final. Shabana, now ranked two in the world, has beaten Karim Darwish, ranked 11, six times in seven meetings before tonight. History was on his side - as well as a mountain of confidence from his world title - and Shabana held the upper hand from the first rally to win 11-6 11-3 11-4.

Asked whether it was his best squash performance, Shabana replied: "Probably. I'm comfortable with my game and I am not anxious. I'm enjoying my squash because I don't have anything to prove any more."

When he faces Power in the final, the history shoe will be on the other foot - he has only beaten the Canadian once in seven meetings, when Power had to retire due to injury. In the last month, they have been training together and giving exhibitions. Did he have a game plan for the final?

"No. I play the same as with Darwish: don't give any loose shots because he will put them away. You have to keep him tight," said the left-hander from Cairo.

Semi-finals:
[1] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 (76m)
[2] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] Karim Darwish (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (31m)