Massaro & David Eye Up British Open Rematch by Howard Harding 11 May 2014
- The world's top two women squash players are expected to go
head-to-head in the final of the Allam British Open for the second year
in a row when the 2014 edition of the sport's most historic
championship reaches its climax at the Sports Arena in Hull next Sunday.
Massaro, the world No2
from Preston, upset the form book 12 months ago in Humberside when she
beat defending and four-time champion Nicol David to become England's
first winner of the title for 22 years. Malaysian David has dominated
the women's game for the past eight years, this month celebrating her
94th successive month as world number one since August 2006.
Massaro went on to
strengthen her claim as the 30-year-old from Penang's biggest threat
when she won the Women's Squash Association's World Championship in
David's home town in March to bring the sport's premier trophy back to
England after a 15-year absence.
"The British will be
really special this year," said Massaro, bidding to become the first
home player to defend the title since 1959. "Returning as defending
champion will be a nice feeling.
"I've tried to keep my
training the same as it has been for the last few events," added the
30-year-old. "No need to change a formula that has been working.
"However, I am fully
aware of how hard it is to win the British Open once - let alone twice
- so I will take it round by round and see how it goes. If I am lucky
enough to win the title again it will be a career-high for me for sure."
David admits to
working harder this year to reclaim the title, which is in its third
year of title-sponsorship by Hull-based Allam Marine, founded by
Egyptian Dr Allam.
"The players and
myself especially are glad that we can compete in the prestigious
British Open annually again with the support of Dr Allam seeing this
through these three years while having us back in Hull," said the
top-seeded Malaysian. "He has even raised the prize money for the
Women's event too.
"This has given me
more of a reason to work harder for this year and I am already looking
forward to starting off the tournament.
"Just to be part of
the British Open is a privilege for me," added David. "It'll be such a
bonus if everything falls into place coming into this week competing
with top class squash players to take this title.
"Winning my first
British Open in 2005 was such a battle at every round and once I won
that title, it hit me just how significant it was being a British Open
champion.
"It spurred me on to
keep winning more since that very moment - an experience that is
difficult to describe but an unforgettable one."
David will face a
qualifier in the opening round while, for the second year in a row,
Massaro will begin her campaign against Joey Chan of Hong Kong.
The WSA World Series
Platinum championship gets underway at the University of Hull Sports
and Fitness Centre on Tuesday (13 May) before moving to The Sports
Arena in Hull from the second round, through to the final on Sunday (18
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)
