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Jonathon Power

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Jonathon Power
Full nameJonathon Tyler Power
Nickname(s)The Magician
Country Canada
Born (1974-08-09) August 9, 1974 (age 50)
ResidenceToronto, Ontario
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Turned pro1991
Retired2006
PlaysRight handed
Coached byMike Way
Racquet usedHarrow, Dunlop
Men's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (May, 1999)
Title(s)36
Tour final(s)58
World OpenW (1998)
Medal record
Men's squash
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Doha Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Antwerp Singles
World Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 1997 Petaling Jaya Team
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Manchester Singles
Silver medal – second place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Singles
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1995 Mar del Plata Singles
Updated on September 19, 2010.

Jonathon Tyler Power (born August 9, 1974) is a Canadian retired professional squash player. In 1999, he became the first North American squash player to reach the World No. 1 ranking. He won 36 top-level squash events during his career, including the World Open in 1998, and the British Open in 1999.

Career overview

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Power began playing squash at the age of seven and turned professional at age 16. After joining the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour in May 1991, he went on to win 36 PSA tournaments, and appeared in 58 finals. Career highlights included winning the World Open (1998), the British Open (1999), the Super Series Finals (2003 & 2005), the PSA Masters (2001, 2002 & 2005), the Tournament of Champions (1996, 1999, 2000 & 2002), and the men's singles Gold Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Power is considered to be one of the greatest shotmakers in the history of the game, having perfected a wide range of drop shots and deception shots. He was often a crowd favourite,[according to whom?] partly because of his emotional outbursts and verbal exchanges with referees, which sometimes led to him being compared with John McEnroe. Power's rivalry with Scotland's Peter Nicol was one of the most famous and extended in the history of the game.

In January 2006, Power returned to the World No. 1 ranking, four-and-a-half years after the previous time he was ranked in the top spot (marking the longest gap between periods of holding the World No. 1 ranking of any player in history). He lost the No. 1 ranking in February 2006 to David Palmer, but regained it again on 1 March 2006. One day later, on 2 March, Power announced his retirement from professional squash. His wife, Sita, gave birth to their daughter named Parker on January 23, 2007.

Power played for Canada at the 2007 and 2009 World Team Championships. He defeated several highly ranked players and showed he was still competitive at world level.[citation needed] He also won the 2008 Canadian Championships, defeating Shahier Razik in the final.

World Open final appearances

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Wins (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1998 Peter Nicol 15–11, 15–12, 15–12

British Open final appearances

[edit]
Wins (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1999 Peter Nicol 15–17, 15–12 (retired)

Commonwealth Games final appearances

[edit]
Wins (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
2002 Peter Nicol 9–4, 4–9, 9–3, 9–0
Runners-up (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1998 Peter Nicol 3–9, 9–2, 9–1, 2–9, 9–2
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Sporting positions
Preceded by World No. 1
May 1999 - September 1999
November 1999 - January 2000
April 2001 - July 2001
January 2006
March 2006
Succeeded by