November 17, 2003

Viktor Berg of Vancouver puts up a valiant effort at Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic

TORONTO-Graham Ryding of Toronto defeated qualifier Jon Kemp of England
15-10, 13-15, 15-7, 15-3 on Monday afternoon in first round play at the $40,000 (U.S.), Pace Credit Union Canadian Squash Classic.


Ryding appeared to overwhelm Kemp, especially in the third and fourth games, but he wasn't totally pleased with his effort.

"I was pretty relaxed, perhaps a little too much early on,"? said Ryding, who has climbed back to number-16 in the world with several strong performances this year after tumbling to 28th a year ago.

"He's a difficult guy to play. He takes your rhythm away and tries to hit a lot of winners. So I felt I was just defending his attack most of the match instead of creating the offence myself. I never got into a rhythm."

Viktor Berg of Vancouver put up a valiant effort but lost to world number-11 and sixth-seed Amr Shabana of Egypt 17-14, 15-7, 12-15, 15-6. Shabana needed every ounce of energy he possessed to beat the determined Canadian, currently ranked 49th internationally.

In the first game, Berg overcame a 10-14 deficit to tie the game. But Shabana called set by three points and reeled off the necessary three straight points he needed to win the first game.

"He made me work very hard," said Berg, a member of Canada's gold medal
winning team at the Pan Am Games. "I needed to win that first game and then it could have gone either way. But he made me run a lot. I was feeling it in the fourth."

Fourth-seed and defending champion Jonathon Power of Montreal opens Monday
evening at 6 p.m. against qualifier Jan Koukal of the Czech Republic. Pan Am Games champion Shahier Razik of Toronto faces third-seed and world champion David Palmer of Australia at 8 p.m., with the winner of that match facing Ryding.

Power expects a tough week with the top-four players in the world in the
tournament.

"There are no more easy matches," said Power. "They're all close these days. Once again I've got a real tough draw to deal with. It's hard to pick."

Also in action Monday night are world number-one and top-seed Peter Nicol of England against qualifier Nick Matthew of England at 7 p.m. and world number-two John White of Scotland against qualifier Cameron White of Australia at 9 p.m.

All matches are on the all-glass court at BCE Place.

Quarterfinals are Tuesday starting at 6 p.m., semifinals on Wednesday at
6:30 p.m. and the final Thursday at 7:30 p.m.