Defending Champion Alison Waters Eyes Up Fifth British National Title by Scarlett Smith
photos squashpics.com
February 12, 2015
- Defending champion Alison Waters is through to the quarter finals of
the National Squash Championships in Manchester after a convincing
11/4, 11/1, 11/3 win against Lucy Beecroft.
Waters is seeded to meet rival and world number three Laura Massaro, who also had a comfortable victory, in Sunday’s final.
“I've already won four national titles but I’d love to get my hands on it for a fifth time,” said Waters.
The men’s draw has been thrown wide open after the number two seed, James Willstrop, withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
Nick Matthew continues the hunt for a record seventh title after a
11/3, 11/9, 11/5 win against the up and coming Declan James.
Speaking afterwards Matthew said: “Declan is a good friend and we train
a lot together so I had to be on my game. I really do feel for
James (Willstrop) but I have to focus on my own job, there’s a lot of
banana skins out there.”
Elsewhere the majority of results also went to seeding as the 2011
National Champion Daryl Selby also reached the quarter final stages.
However, there was an upset in the women’s draw as world number 92,
Yorkshire’s Fiona Moverley, beat Sarah Kippax 3-2 after a dramatic
final game.
Kippax ranked 73 places higher than her opponent was unable to
capitalise on a strong start and despite leading 2-1 was pegged back as
the 28 year old took a shock victory.
It was a more straight forward affair for Sarah Jane Perry, Emily Whitlock and Jenny Duncalf who all recorded wins.
The event run in conjunction with Manchester City Council also welcomes
over a thousand of Manchester’s school children to the National Squash
Centre as part of the event’s legacy programme. Children will have the
chance to experience live squash, meet the players and take part in
mini-squash activities.
Women’s round one results:
[1] Laura Massaro (Lancs) bt Jessica Davis (Cheshire) 11/2, 11/2, 11/7 (21m)
