Perry Secures Debut PSA World Series Finals Spot by Nathan Clarke
photo PSA
March 29, 2017
- England's Sarah-Jane Perry will compete in the lucrative
season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals for the first time in June
after a superb run to the final at the Allam British Open saw her seal
a place amongst the top eight on the concluding Women's PSA Road To
Dubai Standings.
Only the top eight players on the standings qualify for a coveted place
at the PSA Dubai World Series Finals – which will take place inside the
Dubai Opera House from June 6-10, 2017 – where an equal £160,000 prize
purse will be on offer in both the Men's and Women's draws.
"I've never been to Dubai before and never played at the World Series
Finals so I'm very excited to experience it all," said Perry.
"At the start of the season my aims were to make the top eight in the
World Rankings and I've managed to achieve that, so to qualify for
Dubai is a huge bonus. There will be no pressure on me - I'll just go
out there and enjoy the experience and try to play some good squash.
"It will be a fantastic way to end the season."
The 26-year-old from Birmingham came through the field in Hull to
defeat eight-time World Champion Nicol David and reach her first PSA
World Series tournament final. While she fell short to compatriot Laura
Massaro - who moves up to third on the standings - in the final, it was
enough to see Perry secure seventh place in the standings and a trip to
Dubai.
With American Amanda Sobhy ruled out for the remainder of the season
due to injury, a third English player, Alison Waters, moves up to
occupy the No.8 spot and the last berth in Dubai - joining Egyptian
trio Nour El Sherbini, Raneem El Welily and Nouran Gohar.
France's Camille Serme and David complete the Women's qualifiers.
"The 2016 World Series Finals was such a good event and I'm sure we
will all have another brilliant week there this year," said 2016
champion Massaro.
"As an English player its also great to see Alison and SJ qualifying.
There will be a real mix of style and skills amongst the players so it
should be another great event."
Despite a disappointing second round exit at the British Open, World
Champion Karim Abdel Gawad maintains his position at the top of the
Men's Road To Dubai Standings with one qualifying event - April's El
Gouna International - still to play.
Gawad's feats so far this season have guaranteed him a place in Dubai
alongside British Open winner Gregory Gaultier, World No.1 Mohamed
ElShorbagy and 36-year-old Nick Matthew - runner-up in Hull.
Former World No.1 James Willstrop and Egyptian duo Marwan ElShorbagy
and Ramy Ashour are all but confirmed to make the journey to the Middle
East - although they aren't mathematically certain to finish in the top
eight - while Germany's Simon Rösner faces a tough battle for the last
qualifying spot.
Rösner - who takes on Borja Golan in a banana-skin opener in El Gouna -
sits on 130 points, just 10 ahead of Ali Farag with Max Lee and Aussie
duo Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley hot on their heels on 100 points.
