5-May-08:
Willstrop eager to get hands on Dunlop British Open Trophy

England number one James Willstrop heads to Liverpool this week to compete in the Dunlop British Open - Liverpool 2008 squash championships after leading England to success in last week's European Championships - and admits that he would love to get his hands on the trophy of this "massive event".

The Yorkshireman, who rose to three in the world rankings this month, leads home interest in the 'Wimbledon of Squash' which will be staged for the first time in the city at the new ECHO Arena Liverpool from 10-12 May, following qualifying and early rounds at the Liverpool Cricket Club from tomorrow (6 May).

The British National champion is enjoying his best ever run on the PSA Tour. In his seventh successive final appearance in March, Willstrop claimed his sixth major title win at the ISS Canary Wharf Classic in London - part of a run of 24 matches without defeat from the final of the Tournament of Champions in New York and the quarter-finals of the Kuwait Open.

In Saturday's European Team Championships' final in Holland, Willstrop fought back from 2/1 down to overcome career-long rival Gregory Gaultier, the world number two, in a 101-minute marathon as England forged a hard-fought 3/0 victory over France to clinch the title.

"Going into a tournament with a big win like that behind you can only boost your confidence. People think it's just going to happen - but it's not. Greg and Thierry are formidable opponents - both ranked higher than us. It was a hard task for both of us.

"But now we have to start all over again, and come down from the high and be ready for Liverpool. Hopefully we'll take confidence from the achievements.

"I'm pleased with my recent form - but I don't feel I'm playing spectacularly well. I've had some spectacular wins, but other times I've just had to grind it out. I couldn't be going into the British Open in any better form - but I don't want to get carried away with it!

"The British Open is a massive event with huge prestige and lots of history. Winning it is part of every squash player's hopes and aspirations - it's certainly part of mine," said the English star.

"Furthermore, it's in my home country - which makes it even more special.

"I'd be very happy to get my hands on that trophy - so I just hope I can stay focussed and relaxed. And just enjoy it!"

The longest-established and most prestigious event in world squash, the British Open was first held more than 80 years ago and attracts elite international fields from all over the world.

Willstrop, the runner-up in 2005, is seeded to reach the semi-finals. He faces Pakistan teenager Aamir Atlas Khan - at 17, the youngest competitor in the main draw - in the first round.



Willstrop's England team-mates will all be in action in the first round of the Dunlop British Open - Liverpool 2008 at Liverpool Cricket Club. Peter Barker, the No8 seed from Essex, faces wild card player Tom Pashley, from Sussex, while ninth-seeded Yorkshireman Lee Beachill - Willstrop's Pontefract club-mate - takes on Essex's Daryl Selby.

Adrian Grant, the left-hander from London who won the deciding match in the European final, faces a qualifier in the opening round, and England debutant Joey Barrington, meets Finland's 14th seed Olli Tuominen.