Peter Nicol (born 5 April 1973) is a former professional squash player from Scotland, who represented first Scotland and then England in international squash. In 1998, while still competing for Scotland, he became the first player from the UK since Jonah Barrington to hold the World No. 1 ranking. During his career, he won one World Open title, two British Open titles, and four Commonwealth Games gold medals. He is considered to be one of the leading international squash players of his time.
Biography Nicol was born in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. During his career, Nicol was well known for his retrieving game, as well as being a tough competitor. His rivalry with the Canadian player Jonathon Power was amongst the most famous and protracted in the history of squash.
Nicol was ranked World No. 1 for a total of 60 months during his career, including a continuous 24-month stint in 2002–2003.
After finishing runner-up at the World Open in 1997 and 1998, Nicol won the title in 1999, beating Ahmed Barada of Egypt in the final 15–9, 15–13, 15–11. He continued to hold the title of "world champion" through to 2002 as the men's World Open was not held in 2000 or 2001 due to difficulties in securing sponsorship for the event.
After initially representing Scotland in international squash, Nicol switched his representation to England in 2001, claiming that he felt he was not receiving sufficient support from Scottish Squash, the national governing body. Some resented this switch, even going so far as calling it traitorous, suggesting it was rooted in financial gain.
Nicol enjoyed considerable success at the Commonwealth Games, where squash became a medal sport in 1998. In 1998, representing Scotland, he won a men's singles Gold Medal (beating Jonathon Power in the final), and a men's doubles Bronze Medal. Nicol represented the 2002 England team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. He competed in the singles and doubles, winning the silver medal in the singles and the gold medal in the doubles partnering Lee Beachill.
In 2006, again representing England, Nicol won another men's singles gold medal (beating Australia's David Palmer in the final), and another men's doubles gold medal (partnering Beachill again).
Other career highlights included winning three consecutive Super Series Finals titles (1999–2001), two PSA Masters titles (2000 & 2004), three Tournament of Champions titles (2001 & 2003-4), and two British National Championship titles (1996 & 2003). He also won four consecutive gold medals for the England men's national squash team at the European Squash Team Championships from 2003 to 2006.
Retirement In July 2006, Nicol announced that he would be retiring after the 2006 World Open in September. Nicol's final match was a loss to Thierry Lincou in the quarter-finals.
Nicol turned his focus to promoting the game, providing sponsorship, support and coaching through his rackets company Nicol, and promoting events worldwide through Event is Sports Marketing Ltd. Following a move to the United States, he set up the Nicol Champions Academy in New York and co-founded SquashSkills, an online coaching resource aimed at delivering squash coaching from many of the world's top players.
Peter and his wife Jessica Winstanely now own and operate Nicol Squash club in New York and Nicol Rackets in New Jersey, a 20,000 square foot multi-rackets club that houses 4 padel courts, three squash courts, and one pickleball court, and are continuing to expand in the racket sports space.
World Open final appearances Wins (1) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1999 Ahmed Barada 15–9, 15–13, 15–11 Runners-up (2) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1997 Rodney Eyles 15–11, 15–12, 15–12 1998 Jonathon Power 15–17, 15–7, 15–9, 15–10
British Open final appearances
Wins (2) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1998 Jansher Khan 17–16, 15–4, 15–5 2002 John White 15–9, 15–8, 15–8 Runners-up (3) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1997 Jansher Khan 17–15, 9–15, 15–12, 8–15, 15–8 1999 Jonathon Power 15–17, 15–12 (retired) 2003 David Palmer 15–13, 15–13, 15–8
Commonwealth Games final appearances
Wins (2) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1998 Jonathon Power 3–9, 9–2, 9–1, 2–9, 9–2 2006 David Palmer 9–5, 10–8, 4–9, 9–2 Runners-up (1) Year Opponent in final Score in final 2002 Jonathon Power 9–4, 4–9, 9–3, 9–0 Nicol also won men's doubles Gold Medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and 2006 (partnering Lee Beachill on both occasions).
References
External links
Page at Squashpics.com
Article on Nicol's retirement BBC article on the announcement of Nicol's retirement