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Gerrard Grand Prix 2005
23-26 September, National Squash Centre,
Manchester |
Day FOUR, the FINALS:
7th/8th: Karim Darwish (EGY) bt John White (SCO)
11/10
(4-2), 11/4, 9/11, 11/9 (54m)
5th/6th Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
11/9,
11/8, 11/8 (26m)
3rd/4th Lee Beachill (ENG) bt James Willstrop (ENG)
11/8,
11/10 (2-0), 6/11, 9/11, 11/9 (79m)
FINAL Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Nick Matthew
(ENG)
1/11,
11/10(5-3), 11/8, 11/6 (67m)
|
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|
 FRAMBOISE
TALKS
TO
THE CHAMPION
|
LINCOU COMEBACK RETAINS GERRARD
TITLE
France's Thierry Lincou staged a sensational comeback in tonight's
final of the Gerrard Grand Prix Squash Championship to recover from
1/0 and 10-5 down to beat England's Nick Matthew in four games in a
dramatic 67-minute climax to the eight-man event at the National
Squash Centre in Manchester.
Matthew admitted that he was incredibly disappointed with his
defeat, and in particular the second game in which he failed to
convert eight game balls. "It was tough - and he is the world number
one. But no matter who you play, you have to look closely at
yourself over a situation like that – and that's what I will
definitely be doing over the next few days.
"I felt I threw it away," conceded the Yorkshireman who was hoping
to win the championship which he earlier called 'my British Open',
after failing to enter the prestigious tournament which will be
staged at the same venue early next month.
In a spectacular prelude to the Sportcity final, world No2 Lee
Beachill and James Willstrop, the world No8, treated the packed
crowd to a stunning display of high quality squash in the play-off
for third place.
It was a repeat of their battle on the same all-glass court in the
final of the British National Championships in February – but a
match which both Yorkshiremen admitted was their best yet.
 Beachill
took a two game lead after winning a tie-break in the second, but
22-year-old Willstrop refused to give up – and dug deep to draw
level and force the clash into a fifth game decider.
It was nip and tuck throughout until Beachill clinched his first
match-ball at 10-9 to win 11-8 11-10 6-11 9-11 11-9 in 79 minutes
and maintain his 100% record against his younger club-mate.
"It was certainly our closest yet," conceded an exhausted Willstrop
afterwards. "Lee played a blinder in the first two – but to come
back the way he did in the fifth was unbelievable.
"But I am proud of the way I played, and will take that achievement
with me to Budapest where I play my next tournament later this week.
All I can say is, look out Hungary!"
In the play-off for fifth place, Egypt's Amr Shabana beat
Australia's Anthony Ricketts 11-9 11-8 11-8 in 26 minutes in a
repeat of their meeting in last week's final of the St Louis Open in
the USA.
The seventh place play-off saw Egypt's Karim Darwish overcome
Scotland's John White 11-10 11-4 9-11 11-9 in 54 minutes. |
|
Beachill 3, Willstrop 4 |
Shabana 5, Ricketts 6 |
Darwish 7, White 8 |
|
Framboise talks to Thierry
after the final ...
 Better
not have a weak heart when watching you play…
Why?
What do you mean, why? You are 0/1, 3/9 in the second, and you
save 6 game balls…
Eight game balls… But hold on a minute, that's what
competition is all about! I had every intention of taking a better
start, but I got myself an opponent who is a better “starter” than I
am…
So, the first 11/1, is because he was playing well?
Ah, the Nick, frankly, he really impressed me. He played as well as
he did in the World Games, a fantastic start, he caught me off
guard, and yet, I was prepared for it. Really amazing stuff…
What makes Nick so dangerous?
From the word go, he was extremely mobile, and so fast. Error free
squash, seizing any opportunity and making it to his advantage. He
played some superb points at the front, drops, volley drops, so
precise, irretrievable…
What about you then…
Well, I was in trouble because of my lack of precision. So when I
found myself at 3/9 in the second, I changed my tactic. Until then,
I was playing very quickly, at his pace, I couldn’t get any speed
really, on the contrary, he was volleying everything. So I started
to slow down everything, playing tight straight drives, trying to
make him get off the T, as he was taking the ball so early, and
would volley my crosscourts to nick the ball again and again… So I
tried to glue the ball to the wall, forcing him to the back corners,
and I had to be very precise…
And that’s how to turn things round?
Yes, as I was at last able to move him, I created a few
opportunities, I played a few short volley drop shots, with weight
on them, and also, as the rallies were becoming longer and longer,
he started to make a few errors. And the 3rd and 4th were as close
as the second…
How did you manage the last two games?
We were both “damaged” physically after the week, after the second
game, and frankly, it was anybody’s game. The only thing I would say
about my game then is that, from that moment on, I played “right”, I
started to play “the right game”. When I was supposed to play long,
I was playing long, when I had the opportunity, I was playing the
nick, or a nice drop. I was patient in the back, but still, as soon
as I had the opening, I was on the offensive. And it worked in the
3rd and 4th. But it was close, very close…
A conclusion to this week?
It was a very positive one. Four matches, four victories, it gives
me confidence, it gives me match practice. But I had to go and get
that victory, Nick played remarkably well, and now, I’m basically
exhausted, no legs, nothing. Happy to have kept my title, but
exhausted…
|
 |
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DAY THREE:
Final pool matches
and Women's Final ... |
Botwright takes Gerrard Title
 Playing
on her 'home' courts, Manchester's Vicky Botwright overcame
Yorkshire rival Jenny Duncalf to claim the inaugural
Women's Gerrard Grand Prix title at the National Squash Centre in
Manchester.
In the longest and best match of the event so far, Duncalf took
the first two games on tie-breaks, only to see Botwright pull level.
And it was Botwright who held her nerve to take the fifth and conclude the
88-minute marathon.
 |
25 sept - Men's 3rd qualifying round:
MANCHESTER GROUP
James Willstrop (ENG) bt John White (SCO)
5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (42m)
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY)
11-1, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5 (31m)
GERRARD GROUP
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 (69m)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt
Karim Darwish (EGY)
11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (30m) |
LADIES FINAL
Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt
Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
8-10, 8-10, 10-8, 9-7, 9-4 (88m)
LADIES 3/4 Playoff
Laura Lengthorn (ENG) bt
Tania Bailey (ENG)
2-9, 9-4,
9-10 ret. |
LINCOU & MATTHEW IN FINAL
Wins tonight for Nick Matthew and Thierry Lincou,
giving both an unbeaten record, mean that they will contest monday's
final.
Matthew was first to book his place, with a win over Anthony
Ricketts, and Lincou, the top seed and defending champion, then
needed to avoid a heavy defeat against Amr Shabana. In the event
Lincou won comfortably.
FINAL PLAY-OFFS:
1/2: Thierry Lincou v Nick Matthew
2/4: James Willstrop v Lee Beachill
5/6: Anthony Ricketts v Amr Shabana
7/8: John White v Karim Darwish |
Matthew To Face
Title-Holder Lincou In Final
Howard Harding reports from Sportcity
England's unseeded Nick Matthew defeated Australia's
third seed Anthony Ricketts in today's third and final
qualifying round of the Gerrard Grand Prix Squash Championship
at the National Squash Centre in Manchester to celebrate his
third successive win in the event - and a place in Monday's
final.
The 25-year-old world No9 from Sheffield will face defending
champion Thierry Lincou, the world No1 and world
champion from France, who also retained his unbeaten record in
the event by beating Egypt's former world champion Amr Shabana
in the final match of the night in the other qualifying group.
Matthew's Hat-Trick
 Nick
Matthew has been in sensational form throughout the event –
and needed to be to overcome Ricketts, the world No6 and
runner-up in last week's world tour event in St Louis, USA. In
the longest men's match of the championship, Matthew triumphed
11-8 8-11 11-8 11-7 in 69 minutes to record his first
tournament victory over the Australian.
Matthew earlier revealed that a mix-up had led to him missing
the entry deadline for the established event which is due to
be staged at the same venue next month. Runner-up in last
month's English Open in his home town Sheffield, he is
enjoying a good run since undergoing a major training schedule
this summer.
Lincou beat Shabana 11-1 5-11 11-3 11-5 in 31 minutes to move
into the Gerrard final for the second successive year.
Earlier, Yorkshireman James Willstrop raised his hopes of
making the final with a 5-11 11-6 11-8 11-4 win over
Scotland's former world No1 John White. But Lincou's 100%
record puts the world No8 in second position in the Manchester
group – and into Monday's Grand Prix play-off for third place.
Willstrop's Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill, the world No2
and second seed in the event, earned the runner-up position in
the other group behind Matthew, after beating Egypt's Karim
Darwish 11-9 11-4 11-4 in 30 minutes.
Inaugural Title For
Botwright In Thriller
 The
women's final proved to be the longest and most dramatic match
of the tournament, with Manchester star Vicky Botwright coming
back from 2/0 to overcome England team-mate Jenny Duncalf in
an 88-minute marathon.
Botwright was delighted with her maiden title victory on her
home courts at the National Squash Centre: "It's always good
playing at home – and it's fantastic to have won my first big
title in Manchester. It's great for my confidence - let's hope
I can carry on playing this well at next month's British Open
on these same courts."
In the play-off for third place, Lincolnshire's world No10
Tania Bailey narrowly claimed the third game against
Lancashire's Laura-Jane Lengthorn to move 2/1 ahead. But the
former world No4, who is suffering from an adductor strain in
her right leg, decided not to risk further damage and concede
the match to her opponent with the score standing at 2-9 9-4
9-10. |
|
 |
Men's 2nd qualifying round:
MANCHESTER GROUP
James Willstrop (ENG) bt
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY)
11-2, 2-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 (41m)
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v John White (SCO)
11-7, 4-11, 11-4,
11-4 (45m)
GERRARD GROUP
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG)
10-11 (0-2), 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (60m)
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt
Karim Darwish (EGY)
11-9, 8-11, 11-10 (3-1), 11-7 (56m) |
Framboise talks to
Thierry
|
Women's Semi-Finals:
Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
bt
Laura Lengthorn (ENG)
9-3, 9-4, 9-3 (40m)
Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt
Tania Bailey (ENG)
9-5, 8-10, 9-3, 9-1 (55m)
|
Day TWO:
JAMES STOPS
SHABANA
Less than 24 hours after losing
a match he described as 'probably one of the worst I've ever
played', England squash star James Willstrop was back
to sparkling form in today's second qualifying round in the
Gerrard Grand Prix Championship when he beat fourth seed
Amr Shabana at the National Squash Centre in Manchester
to end the Egyptian's nine-match unbeaten run this month.
With two world tour titles
under his belt in the last two weeks, Shabana is the in-form
player of the moment. But 22-year-old Willstrop, a former
world junior champion, dropped just two points to the 2003
World Open champion in a quick opening game – and after 41
minutes wrapped up a sensational 11-2 2-11 11-10 11-9 upset
over the world No7 to keep alive his hopes of reaching
Monday's final.
Both players captivated the
Sportcity crowd with dramatic displays of racket skills and
athleticism – the standout rally of the match being one in
the third game as Shabana attempted to convert game-ball at
10-7 and flung himself across the court to retrieve a
seemingly unreachable shot from the Yorkshireman.
 "I
said to myself after last night that I had to put that
behind me and think positively today – I knew I had to win
to have a chance of going further in the tournament," said
Willstrop, ranked eight in the world. "But Shabana's the
man of the moment, so I'm really happy to have beaten him."
A dejected Shabana admitted
afterwards: "My body's starting to ache – he just ran away
from me. In the first game, I just didn't see anything – it
was too early. But afterwards, I thought I was in control,
then slowed down and made too many errors.
"I didn't think James would
keep going – but he did," admitted the 26-year-old from
Cairo after his first loss in the Manchester group.
NICK CONFIRMS...
Unseeded Englishman Nick
Matthew became the first player to claim two wins out of
two when he beat fellow Yorkshireman Lee Beachill,
the world No2, in the first match of the day in the Gerrard
group.
The packed Sportcity crowd
sensed revenge as second seed Beachill edged ahead after
winning the first game in a tie-break. But Matthew, who
scored a career-first win over his higher-ranked county
rival in a significant upset in last month's English Open in
his home town Sheffield, reclaimed the advantage to win
10-11 11-7 11-4 11-9 in exactly one hour.
"It was certainly tougher the
second time around, but it's good to get back-to-back wins
over someone like Lee," said the 25-year-old world No9.
"He's No2 in the world for a reason – he'll be back. He's
beaten me for years and years and I've just beaten him twice
– two wins is nothing really."
Matthew will not compete in the
Dunlop British Open on the same court next month after
missing the entry deadline for the sport's most prestigious
event. "In view of that, this event has taken on added
importance for me – so I'm determined to make the most of
it."
Beachill brushed aside thoughts
of revenge over the match: "I think Nick's pretty much
proved himself recently, not just against me, but other top
players in the world," said the 27-year-old from Pontefract.
"I'm more concerned with the
way I played – I didn't deserve to beat Nick playing the way
I did. I feel a long way from where I should be, and that's
something I've got to deal with."
ANTHONY'S BACK,
KARIM STILL SUFFERING...
In the other Gerrard group match, third seed Anthony
Ricketts brought himself back into contention for a
place in the final with an 11-9 8-11 11-10 11-7 win in 56
minutes over Egypt's Karim Darwish. The Australian
will take on unbeaten Nick Matthew in the final qualifying
round on Sunday.
TWO OUT OF TWO
FOR LINCOU...
Top seed Thierry Lincou claimed his second win of the
event when he beat Scotland's John White 11-7 4-11
11-4 11-4 in 45 minutes. The world champion from France is
just one win away from his second successive appearance in
the Gerrard final.
 "I
feel that we played better than we both did in St Louis",
said the Frenchman to Framboise after his match. "John
raised his game, made less errors, and actually pushed me to
find a better, more precise, more attacking game".
The title-holder meets fourth seed Amr Shabana to decide the
final order of the Manchester group.
Framboise talks to
Thierry
AND NOW THE LADIES...
On the first day of action in the women's event, the
Sportcity crowd cheered on the result they wanted most when
Lancashire No1 Vicky Botwright, from Worsley in
Manchester, beat English rival Tania Bailey in 55
minutes.
 The 28-year-old world No7 was after revenge after losing to
the Lincolnshire lass, a former world No4, earlier in the
year in Qatar. At one game up and leading 8-6 in the second,
Botwright lost concentration and Bailey took the game to
draw level.
But Botwright stuck to the task and dropped only a further
four points as she stormed to a 9-5 8-10 9-3 9-1 win in 55
minutes, and a place in the final.
"It's nice to play at home and have a win, but I think
Tania's movement was a bit restricted - I tried to move her
around as much as possible, and it seemed to work," said the
Worsley winner.
 Bailey conceded that she suffered a mild adductor strain in
her right leg just a week ago, and began to feel the effects
of this in the third game. "But I can't take anything away
from Vicky, she played well - and did what she had to do to
win.
"I'm really disappointed to have had this minor setback –
but I'm confident that I'll be OK in time for the British
Open," added Bailey, the world No10.
In the final, Botwright will meet another English rival
Jenny Duncalf in what will be a repeat of last month's
English Open climax.
"I hope to reverse that result," exclaimed Botwright, who
lost in a five-game 75-minute marathon in Sheffield. "I've
beaten her twice this year on the world tour, so I'm
confident that I can do it again – especially here in
Manchester."
|
|
Framboise talks to Thierry
 You
are in a better form than in St Louis, it would seem…
Yes, slightly better. Yesterday, still too many errors, but I’ve
found my confidence back a bit, I was able to step up the court,
able to volley… I also found my short game back, I was attacking
better, my 'automatics' are back in place…
And maybe yesterday, you didn’t want to lose to James yet
again…
Yop! You know that I do not fancy losing twice against the same
opponent either… I didn’t play too badly against James, apart from
the fourth, where he took a super start, placing some great winners.
Also, I saw him a bit tired, and went too short too early…
What about your match against John tonight then?
As usual, it started so fast. But I was able to absorb the storm, I
got into his rhythm, I was more precise, I was tight, and I played
well in the front. Globally, I was precise in my length not to give
him too much angle, or too much time to prepare his lethal short
kills, I had a good balance of precision/speed in the back, and yet,
when I had the opportunity, I didn’t hesitate to put the ball at the
front, I played some good drop shots and volley drop shots…
 He
wins the second easily…
Yes, in that one, he was the one who was stepping up the court, he
picked up the pace beautifully, and I was definitely a bit short.
And against John, that’s a big mistake…
Compared to your match in St Louis a few days ago?
To start with, I think that John played much better than in our
previous meeting, and he somehow helped me to raise my game, I was
attacking more, and succeeded to make him move today, where I failed
last time. We made less errors, the rallies lasted longer, and were
more interesting offensive wise, in particular in the first two
games, where we both sustained the rallies quite well. Toward the
end, he was starting to make a few unforced errors, maybe was he
getting tired…
Overall, a very positive match then?
Yes, John played better, forcing me to raise my game, and the score
doesn’t reflect the spirit of the match I feel. We both played
better than in St Louis…
|
DAY ONE:
NOT TONIGHT, JAMES....
Local hero James Willstrop failed to repeat his career-best upset
over the world's best squash player when he went down in five games
to Frenchman Thierry Lincou in tonight's opening match in the
Gerrard Grand Prix Championship at the National Squash Centre in
Manchester.
The 22-year-old Yorkshireman, who beat Lincou in a major world tour
event in St Louis, USA, earlier this week, twice came from behind
against the defending champion at Sportcity but was unable to stop
Lincou winning 11-6 9-11 11-7 4-11 11-4 in 53 minutes.
"It was a huge win for me in St Louis," admitted Willstrop
afterwards. "But I just wasn't able to convert my comebacks tonight.
It's one of the most difficult things in the world to beat someone
like Thierry, but tonight he just did what was needed."
The world champion from Marseille was determined not to let
Willstrop win again: "It was another tough five-setter tonight, but
I felt I put him under more pressure than I did last time, and I was
moving better than him.
"I was really up for this one - I didn't want to let him do it to me
twice," added the 29-year-old.
NICK'S GOOD START
Later in the evening, Willstrop's England team-mate Nick Matthew
came back from a game down to beat Egypt's world No12 Karim Darwish
7-11 11-3 11-9 11-7 in 58 minutes.
Unlike Willstrop, world No9 Matthew had not competed in last week's
US event - preferring to train for the Gerrard Grand Prix.
 "Though my lungs were fine, I did begin to feel a bit heavy in the legs
midway through the match - but unlike the other guys who are feeling
the effects of travel, I'm just lacking match practice," explained
the 25-year-old from Sheffield.
"But I'm especially pleased with my win tonight as I'm competing in
new clothing and with a brand new racket having just signed a new
deal with Slazenger. That's given me a lot of confidence," said
Matthew.
Willstrop will be back in action again on Saturday in his second
Manchester Group match, against the in-form Egyptian Amr Shabana,
winner of two world tour titles already this month. Nick Matthew's
next opponent in the Gerrard Group will be fellow Yorkshireman Lee
Beachill, the world No2.
SHABANA STILL ON FIRE
One player who showed no ill-effects of
his St Louis sortie was fourth seed Amr Shabana. The talented
Egyptian won the title in Missouri, only eight days after clinching
the Heliopolis Open title in his home town Cairo. It took the
left-hander 49 minutes to overpower Scotland's hard-hitting John
White 11-9 11-6 9-11 11-3 in the second match in the Manchester
Group.
"Shabana's improved out of sight," said a seemingly shell-shocked
White, a former world No1, afterwards. "He's much more relaxed – and
last week beat Anthony Ricketts in the St Louis final in just 27
minutes –that's just unbelievable!
"I've always played well on this court, but tonight Shabana just
outplayed me. He didn't give me any opportunities and his shots to
the back of the court were punishing," explained the US-based
Scotsman.
The smiling Egyptian, now sporting strikingly blond hair, had
misgivings about his win over White. "We flew back together, we're
rooming together and we've been to the steam rooms together – it's
very difficult then to play against each other," said the
recently-married 26-year-old.
 "My wife Najla and I have been together for four years but we've
only started living together since we got married," explained the
Egyptian. "So for the first time we are with each other all the time
– she is always there for me and I'm always there for her.
"But that's only 50% of the change in my life: I now also have a
manager, the ex-player Omar Elborolossy, and a new coach Ahmed Tahir
– and they do everything for me, so I don't have to worry about
anything but playing on court. My whole life is much more tidy,"
added Shabana.
"Ahmed Tahir has taught me that there are no such things as trick
shots. The real talent, he tells me, is to play the right shot at
the right time."
|
Day ONE Results
MANCHESTER GROUP
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt
James Willstrop (ENG)
11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-4 (53m)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt
John White (SCO)
11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3 (49m)
GERRARD GROUP
Nick Matthew (ENG) bt
Karim Darwish (EGY)
7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 (58m)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt
[3] Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2 (61m)
BEACHILL BACK ON FORM
The last match of the long opening session proved to be the longest
of the day! England's world No2 Lee Beachill made up for his shock
first round upset to a qualifier in St Louis by beating the event's
runner-up Anthony Ricketts 11-9 7-11 11-5 11-2 in 61 minutes.
 The
number two seed from Yorkshire was pleased with his performance
against the third-seeded Australian: "That's just the game I needed,
I played tons better than I have done for a month or so," said
Beachill. "It was perfect for me, and allowed me to get my
confidence back."
|
20-Sep:
Lincou & Willstrop
head for Manchester
Fresh, if that's the word, from their mammoth quarter-final in St
Louis, Thierry Lincou and James Willstrop are heading for Manchester
for the second edition of the Gerrard Grand Prix, which starts this
Friday ... and the opening match is ... Thierry Lincou v James
Willstrop!
Lincou, the 29-year-old defending champion, is world champion, world
number one and France's most successful squash player of all-time.
 "I
enjoyed playing in the event last year and I really like the court,
and I like the group format. I always do well in pool events. But
you have to be strong physically to play at your best for four days.
"It will be a good chance to play against the top players - and it
will be great final preparation for the 2005 British Open which will
be played at the same venue in October.
"Trying to hold on to the world number one position is an extra
pressure, but I have got used to it and just don't think about it
any more.
"I just go out there and focus on my game plan."
Thierry Lincou
 |
MATCH SCHEDULE
Friday 23rd
September
6.00pm: Lincou v Willstrop
7.00pm: Darwish v Matthew
8.00pm: White v Shabana
9.00pm: Beachill v Ricketts
Saturday 24th September
11.00am: Shabana v Willstrop
12.00noon: Duncalf v Lengthorn
1.00pm: Beachill v Matthew
2.00pm: Ricketts v Darwish
3.00pm: Botwright v Bailey
4.00pm: Lincou v White
Sunday 25th September
2.00pm: White v Willstrop
3.00pm: Women’s 3/4 play-off
4.00pm: Ricketts v Matthew
5.00pm: Women’s Final
6.00pm: Beachill v Darwish
7.00pm: Lincou v Shabana
Monday 26th September
6.00pm 7/8 Play-off
7.00pm 5/6 Play-off
8.00pm 3/4 Play-off
9.00pm Final |
Willstrop Relishing the Challenge
"You only have to look at the
line-up - it's real quality. It should be a huge display of great
squash over the four days.
"It's a tournament I'm really looking forward to – it's superbly
well-organised and always has a good feel to it.
"Manchester is really my second training base, so I love playing on
the courts there. I've now played several tournaments at the centre,
so it has good memories for me.
"The Nationals at the NSC is one of the best tournaments there is –
and Manchester City Council deserve a lot of credit for what they've
done for squash in the area. It's first class.
"If last year is anything to go by, it will be quite cut-throat –
you've got to be on your guard from the outset ... it's quite
full-on! You've got to be ready to perform from the start. But it's
good that there are quite a few events like this nowadays, so we're
used to the system."
James Willstrop |
Botwright Makes
Gerrard Grand Prix Debut
Manchester squash star Vicky Botwright will be making a rare
appearance in a major international event on her home courts when
she competes in the first women's event in the Gerrard Grand Prix at
the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 23-26 September.
 The
28-year-old world No7 from Worsley says that she is "privileged" to
have been asked to compete at Sportcity in the high-quality women's
draw which is being played alongside the star-studded eight-man
event headed by Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the World Champion, the
World No1 and the reigning Gerrard Grand Prix Champion.
"I went to watch a couple of matches last year and was very
impressed with how organised and large the event was," said
Botwright on her return to England after competing in the Seattle
Open in the USA. "So when I received the invitation from the
organisers, I obviously jumped at the chance.
"It's also great to see the top men in the world competing in
Manchester," added the England No2. "We have the Nationals and the
Premier League in Manchester, and now also the British Open - so
times are good for me because they are all on my doorstep!
"But also for the people of Manchester, it's wonderful that they can
see the best players in the world on a regular basis. The following
in the area is quite big now and with the Nick Taylor academy and
the English Institute of Sport all based there; it's the place to
be!"
Botwright trains at the NSC centre "at least five times a week",
doing weights and circuit training with the EIS and also playing
with sister Becky Botwright (ranked 32 in the world) and Lancashire
county team-mate Laura-Jane Lengthorn (world No20) – in addition to
England squad sessions.
Competing with Botwright in the women's draw are Lengthorn, world
No9 Jenny Duncalf and world No10 Tania Bailey, whom Vicky plays in
the first round on Saturday (24 September)
"The last time we played, she beat me 3/1 in Qatar. She is playing
as well now as she was before the setbacks which put her out for all
most two years," explained Vicky.
"And in the first round in Seattle, Tania beat Natalie Grinham (the
world No4 from Australia) in a big five-setter. Ours will be a tough
match, but I suppose it always is when you play your best friend! In
fact, she will be staying at my house when the Grand Prix is on, as
she does when we have our England Squads, so we know each other
well!" |
MATCH SCHEDULE
Friday 23rd
September
6.00pm: Lincou v Willstrop
7.00pm: Darwish v Matthew
8.00pm: White v Shabana
9.00pm: Beachill v Ricketts
Saturday 24th September
11.00am: Shabana v Willstrop
12.00noon: Duncalf v Lengthorn
1.00pm: Beachill v Matthew
2.00pm: Ricketts v Darwish
3.00pm: Botwright v Bailey
4.00pm: Lincou v White
Sunday 25th September
2.00pm: White v Willstrop
3.00pm: Women’s 3/4 play-off
4.00pm: Ricketts v Matthew
5.00pm: Women’s Final
6.00pm: Beachill v Darwish
7.00pm: Lincou v Shabana
Monday 26th September
6.00pm 7/8 Play-off
7.00pm 5/6 Play-off
8.00pm 3/4 Play-off
9.00pm Final |
|
Confident Matthew
Focussed
On Gerrard Grand Prix
After a sensational run in last month's
English Open in his
hometown of Sheffield, England squash star Nick Matthew will be
hoping for similar success in this month's Gerrard Grand Prix in
Manchester – which he considers "almost my second hometown".
Following the unprecedented success of last year's inaugural event,
the Gerrard Grand Prix will take place at the National Squash Centre
at Sportcity in Manchester from 23-26 September – boasting a
star-studded eight-man line-up headed by Frenchman Thierry Lincou,
the World Champion, the World No1 and the reigning Gerrard Grand
Prix Champion.
 England
international Matthew, ranked nine in the world, caused major upsets
in August's opening event of the international squash season at the
Crucible Theatre in Sheffield where he beat both Lee Beachill
and James Willstrop – ranked two and eight, respectively, in
the world - on the way to an unexpected place in the final.
Beachill and Willstrop – both of whom have strong followings in the
North West as a result of their exploits for National League
champions Manchester/Pontefract – are also leading contenders for
Gerrard Grand Prix success.
But the pair have been separated in the initial play-off schedule,
with Willstrop opening his campaign against Lincou, and Beachill
playing in the same group as Matthew – the pair meeting on the
second day (Saturday 24 September) for the first time since
Sheffield.
Matthew is currently 100% focussed on his Grand Prix appearance –
while Gerrard rivals Thierry Lincou, Lee Beachill and James
Willstrop are competing the week before in the
St Louis Open in the USA.
 "I
am deliberately pacing myself through the next important few months,
and have chosen to spend the next few weeks training rather than
competing – to be in prime condition for the Gerrard," Matthew
explained.
"I like playing on the all-glass court in Manchester, and I also
really enjoy the group format of the event, where you can guarantee
to get four tough matches over the four days.
"I'm going to Harrogate for the next few days, to spend some time
with my coach David Pearson, the England National Coach.
We'll spend the first few hours looking at videos of my English Open
matches, to see if any parts of my game need tweaking," admitted
Matthew.
The Gerrard Grand Prix will feature two pools of four players,
leading to finals which will produce a 1-8 finish.
Matthew faces Egypt's world No12 Karim Darwish on the opening day,
with the Beachill match followed by the final group encounter
against Australia's Anthony Ricketts, the world No6.
|
 "I
was doubly pleased with my performance in the English Open –
not just because I beat both of my higher-ranked England
team-mates, but that I handled the extra pressure that comes
with playing in your own home town."
"Not many top players on the international circuit have the
chance to play for a major title on their doorstep, but the
pressure to do well is enormous. So getting to the final was a
real bonus, and it gave me a lot of confidence.
"But I had been playing well for the previous six months, so I
was due a breakthrough!"
"I'm
currently spending a lot of my time in Manchester, at England
squad training sessions at the National Squash Centre, so it's
like home from home there.
"It's a great venue with all the possible facilities you could
need as a player – in fact there are not many better setups in
the rest of the world."
Nick Matthew |
|
Lincou back for Grand Prix
 World
No1, World Champion and reigning Gerrard Grand Prix Champion Thierry Lincou leads a star studded men’s field comprising of
Lee Beachill, Amr Shabana, John White, Anthony
Ricketts, James Willstrop, Karim Darwish and Nick Matthew.
Players will compete in two pools of four on the Friday evening,
Saturday and Sunday, followed by positional play-offs on the Monday
evening. The final will be immediately followed by a Championship
Awards Ceremony which will include presentations provided by popular
and renowned personalities.
Following the success of last year's inaugural event, the
Championships have been expanded to include a women's event
featuring Jenny Duncalf, Laura Lengthorn, Tania
Bailey and Vicky Botwright.
The 2005 Gerrard Grand Prix will take place on the stunning
all-glass show court, venue for the XVII Commonwealth Games and the
annual National Squash Championships.
|
|
"I
am really proud of the way I played in that second game – it
was one of the best comebacks I have had to play."
"This
is my British Open, since I missed the deadline for
entering that tournament." 
"It's
a really nice feeling to qualify again – the more I have
been playing here, the better I think I have become. I'm
really focussed and looking forward to playing Nick in
the final.
"It
shows how close we all are – and how open the men's game
is at the moment that there have been no 3-0 matches
until today."
"It
was strange after the first two games – I didn't feel at
all tired, and thought I was moving well and playing
well, yet I was two games down! I thought to myself,
'Jenny must be playing really well'.
