SCOT Peter Nicol made a huge impression by powering his way into the final of the Cathay Pacific Unisys Open - to set up a crunch final against the indomitable Jansher Khan of Pakistan at the Hong Kong Park Indoor Games Hall today.
Nicol defeated Australian Rodney Eyles 15-7, 15-14, 17-15 in the second semi-final yesterday after Khan had posted a 15-9, 15-8, 12-15, 15-7 triumph over England's Peter Marshall.
Seventh-ranked Nicol is confident of toppling the world number one, having handed the Pakistani his only defeat this year at the Leekes Welsh Classic in February.
''I'm stronger than I was in February, both mentally and physically, so I'm not worried about playing Jansher,'' said the 21-year-old Scot who is in line for back-to-back titles after winning in Singapore last Sunday.
Nicol started off on a fast pace, putting the pressure on Eyles as he quickly raced to a 5-1 lead and went on to convincingly clinch the opening game.
But Eyles, who is fourth on the Professional Squash Association chart, put up a gutsy fight in the second when he came back from 5-8 down to hold game point but he hit the next rally into the tin.
