Matthew Massacre Makes It Four Canary Wharf
Titles
World champion Nick Matthew overwhelmed
his great rival James Willstrop to claim his fourth Canary Wharf Classic
title.
Matthew's high-paced attacking game and astonishing court coverage nullified
Willstrop's best shots.
Matthew clinched an 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 victory in just 51 minutes, the
shortest final on record.
Four years ago these two players battled to a standstill in an epic
semi-final at the East Wintergarden that finished with Willstrop collapsing
with cramp after two hours and seven minutes.
More recently, Matthew beat his Yorkshire neighbour in the National
Championship final in Manchester lasting 76 minutes.
The sell-out crowd at this spectacular venue must have been disappointed
that this showdown was over so quickly, but were spellbound by the sheer
quality and intensity of Matthew's performance.
At 33, he is one of the fittest players on the PSA World Tour and ran his
rival ragged for most of the match.
Willstrop made an uncharacteristically high number of errors, which hastened
his decline.
As five of his shots found their way into the tin in the first game alone,
Matthew was driving the ball to a dying length in the back corners.
Matthew began the evening attending a photocall with fellow world champion
Laura Massaro.
He ended it lifting the Canary Wharf trophy for a fourth time to draw level
with Willstrop and joked: “I was aware before the game that James had four
titles and I had three. So we’d better come back next year to fight for the
fifth title and then both hang up our rackets together.”
He added: “I said to Laura she was going to inspire me this week so when you
say something like that you have to back it up. I’m so proud of her.
“Me and James both got through to this final fresh and it was one of the
first time I was ready to start strong because I knew that he was on great
form.
“And maybe that worked in my favour that he’d not quite been pushed, because
he’s sometimes more dangerous when he’s had a four-setter, because then he
gets more time to practise those backhand drops.
“Maybe he didn’t have enough practice on those but there was still some
amazing shots, and I think it’s the best I’ve moved all year and that really
helps.
“I got my tactics right this time but he’ll get his right next time, and it
could be his turn.”
The players exchanged some dialogue as Willstrop complained about crowd
noise during the rallies. Matthew added: “Me and James differ slightly on
the noise level. It’s the more the better for me, and James prefers less. I
see his point. It’s not like us to have two different opinions…”
After lifting the trophy in front of a batter of cameras, Matthew turned to
his opponent and said: “James, we’ll have some battles, there’s no doubt
about that. I can’t play like that every time.
“I thought you would be used to the noise now with a young son. I’ve got
that to look forward to with our first baby due later this year.”
Willstrop countered: “I just want to correct Nick – it’s not the noise I
have a problem with, it’s the, sort of, intermittent thing. I love the
noise.
“The best venues, like Canary Wharf, like the Tournament of Champions, have
brilliant atmospheres and people getting involved, so I’m just putting you
right there, Nick.”
He added: “Congratulations to Nick. I just have to take my hat off. I don’t
know if it looks like it off the court, but I really gave it everything
tonight.
“I feel spent and I’ve tried my best, but Nick is on top form, he’s had a
great year.
“I can’t really say anything more – he’s given me a bit of a trouncing.
“So I have a lot to learn and many congratulations to him. And thanks to the
crowd for turning up, I know it wasn’t a great final, but I hope there were
some decent rallies.”
English rivals to meet in Canary Wharf Classic final
Top seeds Nick Matthew and James Willstrop
resume their intense rivalry in what promises to be an epic battle in the
final of the Canary Wharf Classic.
Both
swept aside their semi-final rivals in straight games, meaning that both
players have reached the final without dropping a game all week.
Willstrop
almost slipped up in the first game against England team-mate Peter Barker
as his opponent drew level from 10-8 down, but the number two seed recovered
to win 12-10.
The
second game was actually longer, although the 11-2 scoreline reflected the
number of errors from Barker as he attempted to bring massive rallies to a
conclusion with ambitious shots that frequently clipped the edge of the tin.
Barker
led 4-2 in the third and his fans in a sell-out crowd at the East
Wintergarden were willing him to make an impact on the match, but Willstrop
strung five points together with some devastating drop shots on both sides
of the court to regain the ascendancy.
Barker
fought bravely but Willstrop closed out the match to reach his seventh
Canary Wharf final.
He lost
in the final to Matthew two years ago and the two great Yorkshire rivals
produced one of the greatest matches in the history of the sport when they
contested a two-hour battle in 2010 that ended with Willstrop lying in a
heap in the back left corner after an attack of cramp.
Matthew
had taken just 39 minutes to see off the challenge of acrobatic Colombian
Miguel Angel Rodriguez, winning 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 in just 39 minutes.
The
33-year-old world champion knew he had to be mobile around the front of the
court to combat the Colombian’s trickery, and his fast-paced attacking game
prevented his opponent from building any momentum.
Rodriguez
played several astonishing shots between his legs but Matthew was finding
all the corners of the court as he dominated proceedings throughout the
match.
He said:
“It’s nice to know that people think I’m speeding up as I get older, so
these days it can sometimes be a relief to lose early in a tournament so
that you can give your body a rest and prepare for the next tournament.
“That
happened when I lost in the quarter-finals in New York and then won the
Swedish Open and the British Nationals. You don’t always have much time to
prepare between events.
“I have
felt good on court this week and I was pleased to contain Miguel to just the
one dive tonight when I was on match ball.”
Willstrop
hates anyone bringing up the subject of his long losing run against Matthew
in PSA events. He said: “It might be something that everybody outside this
glass court wants to talk about but in reality it’s just the kind of thing
that sport throws up.
“Naturally I hope it comes to an end on this court, where I also ended a
similar run against Lee Beachill a few years ago. I have enjoyed some great
moments on this court, and naturally hope to put on another good performance
in the final.
“It’s
been a great week for English squash with Laura Massaro winning the world
title at the age of 30 and gaining a deserved reward for her years of hard
work and dedicated training.
“With
Nick as world champion and England the world men’s team champions it has
been a magnificent period for squash in this country.
“I am
sure the crowd will be looking forward to another all-English battle between
Nick and me. We’re both playing well and it should be a great match.”
Click Images for Larger View
Nick Matthew Sweeps Away
Miguel Angel Rodriguez
CLick Images for Larger View
James Willstrop almost slipped
up in the first game against England team-mate Peter Barker, But Went On To
Win In Three
Matthew and
Willstrop march towards Canary Wharf showdown
JOEL DURSTON reports from the East Wintergarden
English rivals Nick Matthew and James Willstrop are on course to resume
their long-running and fractious rivalry.
They are now just one match away from meeting in the final of the Canary
Wharf Classic following comfortable victories in the quarter-finals of this
sell-out PSA International 50 event.
Both players won in straight games to set up semi-final clashes with Miguel
Angel Rodriguez and Peter Barker, each of whom had to endure physically
demanding encounters before a packed crowd at the East Wintergarden.
Matthew has won 16 straight PSA matches against Willstrop, including a
Canary Wharf final in 2012 (3-0) and an epic semi-final in 2010, which
lasted more than two hours.
Both players looked sharp last night. Neither has dropped a game this week,
with Willstrop looking in imperious form while Matthew admitted being a
little frustrated after surrendering a massive lead in the third game of his
battle with giant Egyptian Omar Mosaad.
Matthew survived a late fightback from the 6ft 4in Mosaad, who recovered
from 8-2 down to draw level at 8-8, before the world champion from Sheffield
closed out the match.
Matthew revealed: “He picked off one of my serves (at 8-2 in the third) and
it wasn’t that bad a serve. He went for it and started flying it in, and
when you play like that the margins are tight. But he tinned a couple at
8-8, and that’s what happens when you go for it.
“So I’m pleased to get through, but a little bit annoyed with myself because
when you get to my age you should be better from 8-2. You shouldn’t allow
that to happen. You’ve got to be hard on yourself and that’s something I
need to improve on for tomorrow.”
Willstrop made light work of Daryl Selby, who was clearly far from 100 per
cent, beating the world No.10 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 in just 30 minutes.
Selby has recorded only one PSA win against Willstrop, 3-2 in the Qatar
Classic last year, and in truth the Essex man never looked like he was going
to add to that tally here.
Asked if Selby was feeling the effects of his prolonged encounter the
previous day with Jonathan Kemp, Willstrop said: “I would have thought so.
Obviously his movement was slower and I know, and I’m sure he knows and the
crowd knows, that that’s not Daryl at his best.
“It was tough on him last night. Jonathan played really well, made him move
very fast. But I suppose that’s what squash tournaments are about; you have
to keep backing up performances from day to day.
“But credit to him, he put a big effort in in the third here and that just
shows what he’s like, and why he wins crucial matches. He’s one of England’s
World Team champions and he’s a very, very tough competitor.”
Willstrop’s line-and-length game was almost flawless as he produced the kind
of measured control that took him to the pinnacle of the world rankings two
years ago.
Selby mounted some resistance in the third game, with a couple of impressive
smash nicks and, at 5-2 to Willstrop, one backhand cross-court flick from
the back of the court which landed in the nick and had even Willstop looking
to him in astonishment.
But, from 7-5, Willstrop pulled away to clinch victory with a shot so tight
that Selby could not scrape it off the side wall. It was a fitting snapshot
of the match.
Lively Colombian Rodriguez overcame stiff resistance from his friend and
training partner, Hong Kong qualifier Max Lee, to win 3-1 and set up a
repeat of last year’s first round match with Matthew.
Rodriguez, nicknamed the ‘Superman of squash' for his outrageous full-length
dives, trailed 7-1 in the fourth game, but recovered to beat the player who
sprang the upset of the tournament in removing former world number one Karim
Darwish 3-0 in the first round.
“I want to congratulate Max for one of the greatest victories of his
career,” Rodriguez said. “It was very tough for me today, mentally and
physically”.
Not least because, as Rodriguez admitted, Lee knows all of his shots since
they train together in Orlando with former world champion David Palmer.
Lee looked odds-on to take the match to five as he built a significant lead,
but Rodriguez drew level and won the match by smashing the ball straight at
Lee down the middle of the court and the Hong Kong man’s attempt to play a
shot between his legs failed to come off.
World No.9 Barker will face England team-mate Willstrop after what, at
times, seemed like two personal duels for him - one against Simon Rosner and
the other against the officials.
Barker, on what is basically home turf for the Shenfield player, fought back
from a game down to beat the German “Tree Chopper” 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 13-11,
but not before many calls and tense verbal exchanges with the referee, some
involving world No.11 Rosner as well.
At the moment of victory, Barker celebrated with an emotional fist-pump
against the front wall.
He claimed he did not get the rub of the green from the referees until the
final few points, when a couple of “50-50” calls were given in his favour.
He said: “The refs don’t get paid enough and I certainly gave them a run for
their money tonight.
“I lost to Simon last time we played and I probably didn’t pay him the
respect he deserves. I sort of did today ... believe it or not.
“It was a really, really tough match. I don't think I played as well as I
did yesterday, but hopefully I showed a few different qualities. It wasn’t a
vintage performance today, but I’ll hopefully play a little better
tomorrow.”
Judging by the form of Willstrop, who beat him in last year’s final, Barker
will need to.
English rivals Nick Matthew (above) and
James Willstrop (below) are on course to resume their long-running and
fractious rivalry
Daryl Selby after Loosing In Three To James Willstrop
World No.9 Barker will face England
team-mate Willstrop after Q-Final win over Simon Rosner
Miguel Angel Rodriguez through to
Semis after beating Max Lee
DARYL SELBY narrowly dodged a first round
bullet after part-timer Jonathan Kemp took him to the limit at the Canary
Wharf Classic in London tonight.
The world number 10 from Essex, playing in
front a huge bank of his own fans, looked like heading for the exit from
this renowned PSA International 50 event as Kemp produced a master class of
racket skills to take a two-game lead to leave Selby facing a mountain to
climb.
Qualifier Kemp, now 33 years of age and
playing only a limited PSA calendar, blitzed through the opener 11-5 in
seven minutes and survived three game balls in the second to take it 16-14
in a punishing 25 minutes.
The shock was on, but could the man from
Ipswich hold his nerve, and would his legs survive a Selby charge?
The answer in the third game was an emphatic
NO as errors plagued the world ranked number 47. Selby cranked up the pace,
led 7-2 and banked an 11-8 game win to signal the comeback.
“I told Daryl to increase the pace and take
more risks,” said his coach and father, Paul Selby. “At two love down it was
pointless playing to Kempy’s strengths. We had to push him back in the court
and take chances.”
The tactic unsettled Kemp and paid dividends
for Selby. The fourth game was secured 11-8 and the match was as good as
over as the hard yards began to take their toll on the part-timer.
A quickfire fifth went Selby’s way 11-6 and
Kemp’s final task was to accept the cheers and applause of a full-house who
stood as one to salute the player’s efforts.
“That was tough, tough, tough,” admitted
Selby afterwards. “It was probably good for the fans and good for Kempy, but
it was horrible for me going two down.
“But he allowed me back in and the fact that
he is not playing on the tour full time probably made the difference. I’m
now looking forward to an ice bath and 12 hours’ sleep, if my wife Lucie
will let me.”
In complete contrast to the punishing
Selby-Kemp showdown, four-times Canary Wharf champion James Willstrop barely
broke sweat as he easily despatched qualifier Adrian Waller.
World number five Willstrop strolled to a 3-0
win in little over 30 minutes. The 6ft 3in Waller, from Enfield, north
London, found the gap in class too tough a hurdle as he was put to the sword
11-5, 11-6, 11-4.
Even Willstrop and MC for the evening, former
world champion Peter Nicol struggled for words to big-up the game
afterwards. Instead they discussed the quality of the East Wintergarden
venue. “I love coming to Canary Wharf. It’s one of my favourite venues,”
said Willstrop.
Peter Barker became the second Essex man into
the quarters with an equally uncomplicated win against India’s Saurav Ghosal.
Barker found little resistance from the
27-year-old world number 18, who put up slightly more opposition that
Waller, although the outcome was equally as routine.
Barker’s strength was the key, often leaving
Ghosal chasing shadows. As PSA TV commentator Lee Drew said at one point:”
I’m not sure that Ghosal knows what to do here.”
Drew’s fellow broadcaster, Kate Mason,
weighed in: “I feel sorry for Ghosal. I want to give him a hug.”
Barker wasn’t handing out hugs, but it was
close to becoming a lesson as the England international romped home 11-5,
11-3, 11-4.
Afterwards he refused to tip himself for
tournament glory but conceded: ”I would like to win this before I retire. I
got to the final last year. I’d like to go further.”
The evening’s final match saw German No.1
Simon Rosner end the challenge of Egyptian qualifier Ali Anwar Reda. Rosner
secured his third quarter final berth in four years using his explosive
power to full effect winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-9.
He will face Barker on Wednesday while Selby
is paired with Willstrop, Nick Matthew goes up against hard-hitting
Egyptian Omar Mosaad and Miguel Angel Rodriguez gets a crack at Max Lee, who
removed former world number one Karim Darwish in the shock result of the
first round.
Click Images for Larger View
Selby (above) and Willstrop (below)
through to Quarter Finals
Barker (Above) and Rosner (Below)
Will Meet In Q-Finals Click Images for Larger View
Max Lee, the World Ranked No.33 from Hong Kong, pulled off an
astonishing upset in the first round of the 2014 Canary Wharf Classic,
recording an emphatic 3-0 victory over No.4 seed and former World No.1
Karim Darwish.
The 26-year-old, who earned his berth in the first round after
progressing through qualification, delighted the packed house at
London’s spectacular East Wintergarden as his attacking approach saw him
complete a dramatic and tense 11-8, 13-11, 19-17 win.
Lee, who reached a career-high World No.30 ranking in 2012, produced
some of his best squash in recent years to open up a one game lead in
just eight minutes and he then showed his steel to see out two
tie-breaks and earn the victory.
“I had nothing to lose
so I had no fear to play him,”
said Lee. “I
have played him since I was 22 and he has beat me quite a few times.
“He is
one of the best players in the world but I have learnt from every match
against him and I’ve watched his recent matches to find some areas where
I could attack.
“I
just tried to get to the ball early and try and be positive. It can be a
fear to attack against the top players but it’s an awesome feeling to
win and I’m very happy.”
Having previously failed to reach the main draw at any PSA World Tour
event in 2014, Lee will now take on World No.14 Miguel Angel Rodriguez
in his first quarter-final since the 2013 Alwatan and Asnan
International after the Columbian beat London’s Adrian Grant.
“Miguel and I train together so we know each other very well,”
he said.
“We
are similar players and I think we have some of the same strong points
so I have to get focused and prepared but I’m ready for it.”
English World No.1 and current World Squash Champion Nick Matthew eased
through his opening match-up, taking just 39 minutes to see off
Scotland’s Alan Clyne 3-0.
Matthew, who will be hoping to add to the Canary Wharf titles he won in
2010, 2011 and 2013, was at his aggressive, attritional best to pull off
the 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 victory.
“Alan
seemed to have his best patches at the end of each game so it was lucky
that I got a good start in each game to help see me through,”
said Matthew.
“He
plays at a fast pace and is very tenacious so I’m happy to get that
win.”
In the day’s final match-up, Egypt’s World No.11 Omar Mossad beat
compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad 3-1 to book his place against Matthew in
the quarter-finals.
Canary Wharf
Classic - First Round Results, Top Half
Event website:
www.canarywharfsquash.com
Host Sponsor: Canary Wharf Group plc
The Canary Wharf Squash Classic at the East Wintergarden is jointly
promoted by Eventis Sports Marketing and SquashUK.
Tournament Dates: March 24-28, 2014
Venue: East Wintergarden, Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14
Media information from Alan Thatcher
Text or telephone: 07971 639829.
Email:
alan@squashuk.com
Click Images for Larger View
Max Lee, the World Ranked
No.33 beats No.4 seed Karim Darwish
Nick Matthew eased through his
opening match-up to see Alan Clyne
SQUASH
rivals Nick Matthew and James Willstrop are seeded to meet in the final
of next month’s sold-out Canary Wharf Classic.
The
two English stars have dominated London’s most popular squash
tournament, with reigning champion Willstrop claiming four titles and
Matthew three.
This
PSA World Tour International 50 event takes place at the stunning East
Wintergarden venue from March 24-28 and the prospect of another
high-quality all-English showdown resulted in every ticket being snapped
up eight weeks in advance.
However, Matthew and Willstrop face a number of daunting obstacles in
every round, with a strong international field lying in wait. In the top
half of the draw, Matthew faces Scottish wild card Alan Clyne in the
first round, with the winner facing an Egyptian after world No.13 Omar
Mosaad was drawn against compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad.
Matthew began the month as joint world number one with French ace
Gregory Gaultier, but his triumph over Ramy Ashour in Sunday’s Swedish
Open final, following victory over Gaultier in the semi-finals, means
that he will be undisputed number one in the March rankings.
Karim
Darwish is another celebrated Egyptian making his debut appearance at
Canary Wharf. He faces a qualifier in the first round, with a
mouthwatering second round clash in prospect against either Londoner
Adrian Grant or the hugely popular Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez. The
world No.14 is one of the most agile and athletic players on the PSA
Tour.
There
is a strong domestic presence in the bottom half of the draw, with
Willstrop and world No.10 Daryl Selby both meeting qualifiers in the
first round before a scheduled clash in the quarter-finals.
No.3
seed Peter Barker, the world No.7 from Essex, faces a difficult first
round tie against Indian No.1 Saurav Ghosal, one of the quickest players
in the game, before a seeded quarter-final clash with Germany’s Simon
Rosner. The tall world No.11 faces a qualifier in the first round.
FIRST
ROUND DRAW
Monday March 24:
5.30pm: (8) Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col) v Adrian Grant (Eng)
6.15pm: (4) Karim Darwish (Egy) v Qualifier
8.15pm: (1) Nick Matthew (Eng) v Alan Clyne (Sco)
9.00pm: (7) Omar Mosaad (Egy) v Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy)
Tuesday March 25:
5.30pm: (5) Daryl Selby (Eng) v Qualifier
6.15pm: (2) James Willstrop (Eng) v Qualifier
8.15pm: (3) Peter Barker (Eng) v Saurav Ghosal (Ind)
9.00pm: (6) Simon Rosner (Ger) v Qualifier
TICKETS:
With all tickets sold out, a waiting list is being set up should any
tickets be returned.To add your name to this list, please email
cw@eventis-sports.com
CORPORATE HOSPITALITY:
The fabulous East Wintergarden offers superb opportunities for corporate
hospitality, and with the gallery restaurant offering “the best view of
squash anywhere in the world” according to former world champion Peter
Nicol.
Superb
packages are available, enabling spectators to wine, dine and watch all
the gripping squash action from the Gallery restaurant within the East
Wintergarden.
Full details from Tim Garner at Eventis Sports Marketing
Telephone: 07973 817468.
Email:
tgarner@eventis-sports.com
QUALIFYING COMPETITION:
The qualifying competition takes place at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness
Club over the weekend of March 22-23 with four winners joining the top
12 seeds in the main draw.
Event website:
www.canarywharfsquash.com
Host Sponsor: Canary Wharf Group plc
The Canary Wharf Squash Classic at the East Wintergarden is jointly
promoted by Eventis Sports Marketing and SquashUK.
Tournament Dates: March 24-28, 2014
Venue: East Wintergarden, Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14
Media information from Alan Thatcher
Text or telephone: 07971 639829.
Email:
alan@squashuk.com
Darwish
Leads Egyptian Charge
EGYPTIAN legend Karim Darwish makes his debut appearance
in next month’s star-studded Canary Wharf Squash Classic.
Darwish, the 32-year-old current world No.8, is one of the most stylish
players in the game. He is one of five top-ten players in the draw for
this PSA World Tour International 50 event which takes place at the East
Wintergarden from March 24-28.
Former
world number one Darwish, from Cairo, will be aiming to become the first
Egyptian winner of London’s favourite squash tournament. Tickets sold
out last week and organisers are predicting one of the most entertaining
competitions in the event’s 11-year history.
Darwish is
joined in the draw by two other Egyptian aces, Omar Mosaad and Karim
Abdel Gawad. Mosaad is placed 13 in the PSA world rankings with Gawad
four spots below him.
Mosaad, one of the tallest players on the PSA World Tour, has a
phenomenal reach and possesses a powerful, attacking style. Gawad has a
more slender physique but is no less ruthless and this week celebrated
his seventh PSA title by beating former England international Alister
Walker, now representing Namibia, in the final of the Pittsburgh Open.
The Canary Wharf Classic follows a run of major events in America, with
England’s top two seeds Nick Matthew and reigning champion James
Willstrop keen to hit peak form for the event.
Tournament
Director Tim Garner said: “We are delighted to welcome back Nick and
James, and local favourites Peter Barker and Daryl Selby make it four
Englishmen from the world top ten.
“James won his fourth Canary Wharf title last year, and although Nick
was disappointed to lose in the semi-finals he used that as a
springboard for a great run of form later in the year that took him to
his third world title in Manchester.
“The
quality of the draw this year is outstanding with three players who have
been world number one and six who are or have been their national number
one.”
Adding
international flavour to the event are German No.1 Simon Rosner,
Colombia’s incredibly athletic Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and India’s
Saurav Ghosal.
Londoner
Adrian Grant makes it five Englishmen in the main draw, with the wild
card being awarded to Alan Clyne as a major boost ahead of the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Sports Minister Helen Grant
Gets on the
ball with squash
Sports Minister Helen Grant looked on the
ball as she got on court during her visit to The Mote Squash Club’s Open
Day.
The Maidstone and Weald MP showed plenty
of skill as she enjoyed a fun game with Mote’s England junior
international James Evans after borrowing a racket.
When faced the choice of a blue or red
one, she diplomatically stated: “I’d better choose the blue one.”
She was impressed by the club’s ambitious
development plans, which include a possible all-glass show-court where
events like the world-ranking Kent Open, hosted by the club for the past
five years, can accommodate more spectators.
The Minister said: “I was delighted to be
able to visit Mote Squash Club and meet with some of their members. They
really are a great group of people, and having a club like this in
Maidstone can only be of substantial benefit for the local community.
“Squash is a wonderful sport and a great
way to keep active, and I would heartily recommend that anyone
interested should come down to the club and give it a go.”
Mrs Grant revealed she had played squash
at school as she chatted to chairman Dave Verga and several of the
club’s junior members.
Mr Verga said he hoped that Mrs Grant’s
visit to the club (especially in her role as Minister of Sport) would
raise interest in squash, which does not receive the same amount of
attention as other high-profile sports.
He added: “The junior members of the club
were especially delighted to meet her. She had obviously played squash
before and we would be delighted to see her back at the club in the
future, especially during the Kent Open.”
The Open Day offered free squash and
racketball coaching all day, plus on-court fitness sessions such as
Squashercise, and attracted several new members.
Click Images for Larger View
Sports Minister Helen Grant meets the juniors at The
Mote,
enjoys a game with junior international James Evans,
and chats to
club chairman Dave Verga
Canary Wharf Classic sold out with eight weeks to go
THE 2014 Canary Wharf Squash Classic is a
complete sell-out – an astonishing EIGHT WEEKS before London’s favourite
squash tournament takes place.
This PSA World Tour International 50
event takes place at the East Wintergarden from March 24-28 and a
delighted Tournament Director Tim Garner made the announcement as he put
the “sold out” signs on the tournament website.
He said: “This is wonderful news, and
proves just how popular the tournament has become down the years. A
handful of places are still available for the corporate hospitality
section, and we are setting up a waiting list should any tickets be
returned.
“This is our 11th year of
staging the Canary Wharf Classic and there so many ingredients that make
it so successful. First and foremost is our relationship with Canary
Wharf Group plc, which provides one of the most stunning venues anywhere
in the world of squash.
“The East Wintergarden is the perfect
location for the glass court and a full-house venue always provides a
wonderful atmosphere. In turn, that inspires the greatest players in the
world to produce squash of the highest calibre.”
The announcement came hot on the heels
after finals day of the Tournament of Champions in New York, which
Garner believes is the only other squash event in the world to match
Canary Wharf’s popularity.
He added: “The ToC is probably the jewel
in the crown in squash, with a magnificent venue at Grand Central
Station. As far as I am aware, it is the only other major squash event
that sells out every ticket every day.”
Garner kept a close eye on the results
from New York as Egyptian ace Amr Shabana beat England’s Nick Matthew
and James Willstrop, then swept past Gregory Gaultier in the final.
The Frenchman, runner-up to Matthew in
the 2010 Canary Wharf final, needed to win to hold the world No.1
position outright and will now share top spot in the February rankings
with Matthew.
Canary Wharf
Classic 2014: Rush To Buy Hottest Tickets In Town
TICKETS are already selling quickly for London’s premier squash
tournament, the 2014 Canary Wharf Squash Classic.
If
early sales are anything to go by, this PSA International 50 event is
heading for a sell-out for the fifth year in a row.
The
event takes place from 24-28th March 2014 and more than 650
tickets have been sold within a fortnight of going on sale as fans rush
to secure their prime spot in front of the action.
Tournament promoter Peter Nicol, the former world champion, is delighted
by the response.
Nicol,
a director of Eventis Sports Marketing, said: “I think everybody agreed
that last year’s tournament was the best in terms of quality and we were
able to serve up high-class entertainment every day.
“As
our tenth anniversary tournament it was quite a landmark event and it
was especially fitting that James Willstrop should win his fourth title,
having played in every single Canary Wharf Classic since its inception.
“We
are now in our 11th year of working in partnership with the Canary Wharf
Group to bring the world’s best players to the magnificent East
Wintergarden venue.
“The
feedback from the players is always enormously positive. They love the
atmosphere generated by a sell-out crowd and we would be delighted to
see that happen for a fifth year running.”
Nicol
and Tournament Director Tim Garner set a record for endurance and
stamina in the summer as they took part in the incredible Xodus 7
Continent Challenge to promote squash’s Olympic bid.
They
played seven matches in seven days in the Falkland Islands, Chile,
Australia, Malaysia, Egypt, London and New York in an astonishing
display of support for the sport they love.
Garner
added: “It was an amazing week and Peter and I are probably still
recovering!
“Even
though the IOC decision to re-admit wrestling was frustrating for the
squash community, events like Canary Wharf continue to showcase the
sport at the highest level and the sport is better placed thanks to a
quality bid.”
TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2014 Canary Wharf Classic cost from £17.50 (£10
U16s/OAPs) and are available from Ticketmaster.
The
fabulous East Wintergarden offers superb opportunities for corporate
hospitality, with the gallery restaurant offering “the best view of
squash anywhere in the world” according to Nicol.
The
qualifying competition takes place at Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness
Club over the weekend of March 22-23 with four winners joining the top
12 seeds in the main draw.
Tournament Title Sponsor: ISS Facility Services, London Division
Host Sponsor: Canary Wharf Group plc
The ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic at the East Wintergarden is
jointly promoted by Eventis Sports Marketing and SquashUK.
Tournament:
Main draw:
Venue: East Wintergarden, Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14
Corporate Hospitality: Superb packages are available, enabling
spectators to wine, dine and watch all the gripping squash action
from the Gallery restaurant within the East Wintergarden.
Full details from Tim Garner at Eventis Sports Marketing
Telephone: 07973 817468. Email:
tgarner@eventis-sports.com
Media information from Alan Thatcher
Text or telephone: 07971 639829. Email:
alan@squashuk.com
