Cameron Pilley Says Extra Motivation Behind Hong Kong Run from PSA Media
photo PSA
Decamber 15, 2015
- Australian No.2 Cameron Pilley has revealed that losing his status as
the country’s number one ranked player to World No.16 Ryan Cuskelly
helped provide the added motivation to propel him to his first ever PSA
World Series final at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong
Kong Open.
The 33-year-old was replaced as the top ranked Australian by Cuskelly
after the latter’s fine run in November’s Qatar Classic, where he
reached the semi-final, dovetailed with some mixed form from Pilley.
However, Pilley was devastating in Hong Kong a fortnight ago, taking
out World Champion Gregory Gaultier and World No.3 Nick Matthew
en-route to a final showdown against defending champion Mohamed
Elshorbagy where he finally succumbed. World No.24 Pilley admits that,
while he is delighted about having one of his compatriots join him
towards the top of the World Rankings, he is using the challenge as
extra motivation in the future.
“I dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in a long time so that was added motivation,” said Pilley to the Daily Examiner.
“It was also the first time in about five years another Australian had
jumped above me. I'm absolutely stoked another Australian has stepped
up and cracked the top 20 but, on a personal level, it's motivation for
me. The week of training I had before Hong Kong I just changed a couple
of things, including a reposition of my grip, and on the mental side of
things I tried to go in with a much more relaxed approach to the game.
“I haven't had a proper look at the rankings but I'd say I'll probably
jump about 10 spots. Beating three guys in the top ten [the other being
Simon Rösner] in three days in succession makes it a pretty satisfying
event for me. It's good to see my game fall into place and everything
come together.”
Pilley reached his career-best ranking of World No.11 when he was 28
and joins a host of players, such as Gaultier and Matthew, who have hit
their peak later on in their careers.
With Pilley once again looking to recapture some of his best form, the
man from Yamba says that he is looking to put his experiences over a
lengthy career into good use.
“Looking at the rankings and results of players in the past 10 years on
tour, a lot of guys don't hit their stride or their peak until their
late 20s or early 30s,” he explained.
“Physically and mentally I've always been a late developer, and it's
good to put those 14 years of experience on tour into play.”
Pilley is back in action at next month’s J.P. Morgan Tournament of
Champions where valuable points for the PSA Road to Dubai Standings,
where he is currently situated fourth, are up for grabs.
With a difficult fixture against World No.10 Tarek Momen in store,
Pilley will be looking to maintain the sort of form that saw him shock
Gaultier and Matthew to announce his return to the highest level.
