About Peter Nicol

Peter Nicol

NAME: Peter Franz Nicol, MBE

BORN: Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, April 5, 1973

HOME CLUB: Connaught Club, Chingford, Essex

COACH: Neil Harvey : one of the most experienced and successful coaches in the modern game. He is a former England number one and Peter says: "Neil has helped to shape not only my career but my whole attitude to the game."

RANKING: England No.1, PSA World No.1 (Correct as at August 2003)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• BRITISH OPEN champion on his 25th birthday in 1998, beating Jansher Khan in straight games to end Pakistan's stranglehold on the game's most prestigious tournament.
• COMMONWEALTH GAMES gold medallist in 1998, beating Canada's Jonathon Power 3-2 in a titanic final.
• WORLD OPEN champion in 1999, beating local hero Ahmed Barada 3-0 in front of 4,000 Egyptians at the spectacular open-air amphitheatre at the foot of the Great Pyramids.
• PSA SUPER SERIES in 2001, clinched a hat-trick of titles by beating Australia's British Open champion David Palmer at the Broadgate Arena in June.
• BRITISH OPEN champion in April 2002, 2nd Title, beating Prince colleague John White in the final at Manchester's new National Squash Centre.
• TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 2003 - Winner - New York.
• COMMONWEALTH GAMES gold medallist in 2003. Paired up with England's No. 2 Lee Beachill to bring home the Doubles gold medal.

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS: 67 caps for Scotland (lost only once). Qualifies to play for England in May 2002.

OTHER HONOURS: MBE in 1999 for services to squash; Scottish Sports Personality Of The Year 1998 'The Scotsman Newspaper' Numerous other awards, including the SRA Player Of The Year in 2001. Honorary Doctorate in Law, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

LEARNING CURVE: Losing 3-2 to Jansher Khan in 1997 British Open final; losing to Rodney Eyles and Jonathon Power in World Open finals of 1997 and 1998.

LOW POINTS: Collapsing with dehydration at courtside during 1999 British Open final in Aberdeen. Withdrawing from 2000 British Open with foot injury. Losing to Lee Beachill in 2001 British Open in Birmingham, and in 2002 Nationals in Manchester.

TACTICS: The fittest and fastest player in the game. Loves to volley and work his opponents round the court. A brilliant retriever who defies his opponents to put the ball beyond his reach. An intelligent, patient rallier who uses the lob to good effect.

SPONSORS: Long-term relationships with Prince (for racquets, shoes and clothing) and Pursers Garage in Old Kent Road, London (who supply him with a VW Golf with special heated seats). Recently signed up with New Spirit Naturals to promote Green Magic nutrition products, which he uses on a daily basis.