 The
English
are coming
Andrew Dent
reports
The resurgence of the Australian Open on the
international squash calendar has continued with news this
week that three top class Englishmen have entered the
tournament, to be held in the South Australian wine growing
town of Clare from July 14-19.
Daryl Selby, world number 26, Jonathan Kemp
(31) and Tom Richards (34), will all be aiming to
become the first Englishman since Gawain Briars in 1978 to
win the Australian Open.
They join world number 14 Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia
and Australia’s Cameron Pilley (No.23) in a field
that is shaping to be the strongest in many years.
Selby, 26, has seven titles to his name including one in
2009, in Montreal, and at this stage is the third highest
ranked player to have entered, behind Ong and Pilley.
The 28-year-old Kemp is in the middle of a hot streak of
form, having won the Atlanta Open on Saturday to go with the
Winnipeg and Berkshire Opens earlier in the year.
Richards, 22, is considered one of the rising stars of
English squash, having won his maiden title in 2008 before
taking out the Kish Persian Gulf Cup in Iran in March.
None of the three men has played professionally in Australia
previously.
"The calibre of entries
received so far is outstanding.
"Entries don’t close for another month but already the depth
of talent in the men’s draw is better than last year.
"At this stage if a player is outside the top 60 in the
world, then he will have to qualify for the main draw."
Tournament Director
Other players to have
entered include 20-year-old Egyptian Ali Anwar Reda
(No.42) and New Zealand pair Martin Knight (59) and
Campbell Grayson (61).
Joining Pilley in the local brigade are Aaron Frankcomb
(41) and Scott Arnold (58), but last year’s champion,
David Palmer, will not be back to defend his title as his
wife is due to give birth to their second child around that
time, opening the door for a new name to be added to the
famous trophy.
The Clare Valley Australian Open will be held on the
all-glass court at the Valleys Lifestyle Centre in Clare,
two hours north of Adelaide.
The tournament is in its third year and final year at Clare
– it has been put out to tender and a number of cities have
expressed interest in hosting the 2010 event.
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NZ Open Reborn
Gary Denvir reports
The resurgence of squash in New Zealand has taken another
giant step forward with the New Zealand Women's Open
to be resurrected in August.
The tournament has not been contested since 1996, but will
return as part of the highly successful Mt Maunganui
Festival of Squash, and will be played on the glass
court inside the Bayfair Shopping centre in Mt Maunganui. A1
Homes has signed on as the major sponsor.
The $US45,000 prize pool for the women's 16 strong draw
means it is one of only a handful of tournaments on the
WISPA World Tour with gold status or better this year, and
many of the world's top 10, including kiwi Shelley
Kitchen are expected to compete.
The New Zealand Women's Open has a proud history, with
former winners including Dame Susan Devoy (8 times)
and Australian stars Vicki Cardwell, Michelle
Martin and Sarah Fitz-Gerald.
The Mt Maunganui Festival of Squash will also feature an
international men's event, with two invited international
players and the Mt Maunganui Open.
The Mt Maunganui Festival of Squash will be held August
11-16.
2008 Festival |
