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Rod Gilmour At ToC, New York
Nick Matthew v James Willstrop. It's Britain’s great racket sport rivalry and
one that continues to perenially haunt Willstrop.
From Grand Central Station to the grass courts of the Queen’s Club, the 6’ 4’’
world No 4 just can’t win a match against his fellow Yorkshireman, the latest of
which came in a rare, one-sided semi-final at the World Series Finals – staged
in an inflatable cube on the lush grass of the 125 year-old sports club in
London.
Andy Murray doesn’t
have Willstrop’s problem, namely that there is no one close enough in British
tennis. Willstrop, the former world junior champion, has now lost 11 on the
bounce and counting, six of them in 2010, against a player he has been hammering
down squash walls with since junior days in Yorkshire.
He last beat Matthew
in the 2007 English Open final before Matthew began his run in January 2009 in
New York. Each match he has lost since has clearly played a psychological
advantage; Matthew’s dominance has only increased on the world stage.
For Matthew, racking
up wins has been second nature as he bids to become World Series champion for
the first time. It would make sense for him to achieve this. Last year saw the
Sheffield right-hander become world champion, world No 1, Commonwealth champion
as well as amassing a six-month unbeaten run. In January he was predicatably
awarded world player of the year in New York.
Not that Willstrop
has gone down without a fight in each of his contests. He lost out in a brutal
2009 British Open final, where Willstrop held match balls, and the Canary Wharf
Classic semi-finals, which saw the Yorkshireman’s bid end with severe cramp
after one of the finest contest in recent years.
In the World Series
semi-final, Matthew stretched his opponent throughout. Willstrop’s backhand
drops briefly deserted him before offering a mini comeback in the second.
Matthew refused to play short in the third as he bid to dig Willstrop into the
ground.
His words in defeat -
coming moments after walking off court - were again refreshing and told of the
gladiatorial battle going on both in mind and on court. With family and the
Pontefract entourage having made the trip he looked as if he was on the verge of
tears.
He was beating
himself up in front of a packed crowd while paying tribute to Matthew for the
achievements he has won, yet few know about.
Pontefract will know
when Willstrop finally ousts Matthew.
Rod Gilmour, The
Telegraph
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