Irish Open
Postponed
The Icelandic
volcano eruption, which has caused massive disruption to air travel in and out
of Europe, has led to the postponement of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open,
the joint PSA and WISPA World Tour squash event which was due to
take place this week in Dublin.
A decision
regarding re-scheduling the event will be made as soon as possible.
Irish Women top the bill in International Squash Tournament in Dublin
Three time former
Champion, Ireland's Madeline Perry, current world number seven, is top seed in
this year’s Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Squash Open, taking place in Fitzwilliam
Lawn Tennis Club from 19th – 25th April. Perry is joined
in the draw by her Irish team mate, Sligo's Aisling Blake who seeded seven due
to her current career high world ranking of 26.
The two Irish women
however will have to contend with twice former Irish Open champion and former
world number one, Vanessa Atkinson, whom Perry is scheduled to meet in the
final. All women’s seeds one to eight are in the world’s top 30, and such is the
quality of the draw that players ranked in the world top 40 must qualify to get
into the main draw. Aisling has the tougher of the draw with a match against
Line Hansen of Denmark, ranked just two places below her (Wednesday 22nd at
7.00pm).
The men's draw sees the
welcome return of Mohamed El Shorbagy, the exciting 19 year old from Egypt, who
is seeded one, and hopes to take the title that he failed to secure in last
year's final. Currently ranked 17 in the world, El Shorbagy is scheduled to meet
England’s Jonathan Kemp, ranked 20, in the final. The draw will also see the
return of Joey Barrington, son of former world and Irish champion Jonah
Barrington. Ranked 28, Barrington will provide a tough test for Ireland's John
Rooney in the first round. Former Cannon Kirk Homes Open winner, Borja Golan is
making a return from injury and poses a threat to everyone. Golan had a world
ranking of 10 before his injury. The exciting Davide Bianchetti of Italy, who
reached the semi-finals in 2007, is another exciting attraction in the draw.
Several Irish players
will battle it out with other hopefuls in the qualifiers for the four remaining
slots in both the men’s and women’s main draws. Laura Mylotte will face a tough
battle in a qualifying draw that includes previous Cannon Kirk Homes competitor
Orla Noom. In the men’s qualifiers, Liam Kenny and Arthur Gaskin will be hoping
to successfully make it through to the main draw.
Qualifying matches begin
on Monday 19th April at 2.00pm, with the main tournament beginning on
Wednesday 21st April at 2.00pm. The finals taking place on Saturday
24th in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin. Entry is free to all
matches right up to the final.
