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Prince dominates British Open
In a remarkable endorsement of Prince O3 racquet technology, the brand's players claimed three of the four places in the finals of the 2008 British Open Squash Championships, the longest established and most prestigious event in world squash.
The women's final in Liverpool was a surprise all-Prince affair, in which Malaysian favourite Nicol David took on England's fifth seed Jenny Duncalf.
While world number one David was appearing in her fourth successive final, Duncalf was celebrating her maiden appearance in the climax of the 'Wimbledon' of squash. In the best result of her career, the 25-year-old made her breakthrough in the quarter-finals when she defeated defending champion Rachael Grinham, the reigning world champion from Australia.
Nicol David, making her tournament debut with the Prince O3 Speedport Black racquet, was in awesome form, beating Duncalf 9-1, 10-8, 9-0 in 40 minutes to claim the title for the third time.
England's James Willstrop, who has secured seven major squash titles since adopting Prince O3 racquet technology just nine months ago, fought through to the men's final after despatching former world champion Thierry Lincou in straight games in the semis.
In what will go down as one of the most dramatic men's finals in the British Open's 80-year-old history, Willstrop twice served for the title only to have hopes of a Prince double dashed when Australian David Palmer clinched victory 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-10 (3-1) in a 111-minute thriller.
"James is a great guy and a great ambassador for the sport," said Palmer afterwards. He's one of the fairest guys on the Tour - he is going to win this title one day, for sure," added the four-time champion.
Prince Global Tour Manager Peter Nicol acknowledged that the two finals proved to be a wonderful endorsement of O3 technology: "It was a fantastic achievement for Jenny Duncalf to reach her first major final - but she was playing the best player in the world and Nicol David was just too good on the day.
"The men's final was one of the toughest games you're ever likely to seen - real gutsy squash," added Nicol. "The fifth was anybody's game - and James, who fought to the bitter end, was twice on the brink of his greatest triumph ever.
"All three players a true credit to the brand."
