Massaro In Half Century British Open Bid by Howard Harding 3 April 2014
- World No2 Laura Massaro bids to become the first Englishwoman for
more than 50 years to defend the world's most prestigious squash title
when she takes on Hong Kong's Joey Chan in the first round of the Allam
British Open in Hull next month.
The Women's Squash
Association World Series Platinum championship will take place at The
Sports Arena in the East Yorkshire city of Hull from 13-18, following
qualifying and first round action at the University of Hull Sports and
Fitness Centre.
"The strength and
depth in the women's draw is really tough," said Massaro after
Wednesday's draw at the University of Hull. "I've actually got the same
first round draw that I had last year - so I don't know if that's a
good or a bad omen," added the No2 seed who aims to become the first
English player since Janet Morgan in 1959 to retain the title.
It was in the final in
Hull last year that the Lancashire lass produced one of the biggest
wins of her career to depose defending champion Nicol David, the world
No1 from Malaysia, to become the first English winner of the title
since 1991.
Massaro went on to
ensure a place in squash history last month when she won the WSA World
Championship in Malaysia - becoming the first Englishwoman to hold both
the British Open and World titles.
"It's a really
prestigious event and for all the British players it's a great
opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, which is something we
don't get to do very often," explained the 30-year-old from Preston at
the British Open draw.
"I guess now I need to stop celebrating my World Open win and start focusing on this, now it's become real!"
Second seed Massaro
will be making her 11th successive appearance in the main draw of the
championship when she takes on world No25 Chan in the opening round.
The Hong Kong number one Annie Au is her likely second round opponent,
before a predicted clash with Irish champion Madeline Perry in the
quarter-finals.
A repeat of her World
Championship semi against Egypt's world No3 Raneem El Welily is the
anticipated semi-final in the lower half of the draw, before a showdown
with top seed David in a repeat of the 2013 final.
Nicol David, seeded to
win the title for a fifth time since 2005, begins her 12th successive
British Open campaign against a qualifier before an anticipated second
round meeting with rapidly-rising English player Sarah-Jane Perry.
After a possible clash
with French number one Camille Serme, the No6 seed, in the
quarter-finals, it is fourth seed Joelle King - the new world No4 from
New Zealand - who is David's predicted opponent in the semi-finals.
This will be the third
year that the British Open has been supported by title sponsor Dr Allam
who, in a bid to ultimately offer equal prize money for men and women,
has increased the prize fund for the 2014 women's draw to $100,000.
"I am very pleased to
be able to support women's squash," said Dr Allam (pictured above with
Massaro and compatriot James Willstrop at the draw). "I am committed to
ensuring the increase of the women's prize money in both practical and
financial terms. After all, female squash players play the best of five
games the same as their male counterparts.
"I am very happy to be
bringing this important event back to East Yorkshire and I look forward
to seeing some great squash on display in May."
1st round draw: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Line Hansen (DEN) [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Qualifier [6] Camille Serme (FRA) v Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [5] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier [12] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v Qualifier [15] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Joshana Chinappa (IND) [4] Joelle King (NZL) v Qualifier [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Qualifier [14] Kasey Brown (AUS) v [WC] Emily Whitlock (ENG) [13] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Emma Beddoes (ENG) [7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Qualifier [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) [10] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Sarah Kippax (ENG) [9] Annie Au (HKG) v Qualifier [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)
