ISLAMABAD, 8 December 2004 — Australian top seed David Palmer will take on defending champion Jonathan Power of Canada in the quarterfinals of the Pakistan Open after both registered second-round victories yesterday.
Palmer, the world No. 4, defeated home favorite Mansoor Zaman 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8 in 45 minutes while Power comfortably beat Egyptian Mohammed Abbas 11-7, 11-5, 11-4.
“It will be intriguing to meet Palmer in the last round and I will do my best to win my second title here,” said Power.
Power and Palmer are the two strongest players in the tournament after the world’s top three performers — Lee Beachill of England, Thierry Lincou of France and Peter Nicol of England — did not enter.
Former world champion Amr Shabana of Egypt, who lost to Palmer in last week’s World Open in Doha, beat Mark Chaloner of England in straight games and plays another Englishman, James Willstrop, in the quarterfinals. Willstrop was an easy winner against Olli Tuominen of Finland by 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 scoreline.
However, Egyptian fourth seed Karim Darwish, a former world junior champion, was knocked out by Australian 10th seed Anthony Rickettes of Australia in a marathon five-setter.
Rickettes, who many feel has the potential to be the next world No. 1, won 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 10-12, 11-2. Rickettes will face Gregory Gaultier, who also came through a five-set battle 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9 against countryman Renan Lavigne.
Meanwhile Mansoor’s exit left his cousin Shahid Zaman as Pakistan’s only hope for the first home winner since Amjad Khan in 1998.
The 24-year-old, ranked 31 in the world, unleashed some powerful shots against Austrian Joseph Kneipp to come through 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, in just 34 minutes after upsetting world number nine Adrian Grant of England in the first round on Monday.
“I am playing well. We need to win so that our fortunes are revived at the international level,” said Shahid, who will play England’s Nick Matthew in the quarterfinals.
The final of the $65,000 tournament will be played on Friday.
