28-Oct-10:
MATTHEW DEFENDS TITLE AS WORLD'S LEADING SQUASH
STARS RETURN TO ISS CANARY WHARF CLASSIC IN 2011
Alan Thatcher reports
Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 ISS Canary Wharf Squash
Classic as world No.2 Nick Matthew plans to defend
his title fresh from striking gold at the Commonwealth Games.
The eighth edition of the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic, a PSA
Five-Star world-ranking tournament, takes place from March 21-25
next year and co-promoter Peter Nicol is looking forward
to another sell-out.
Nicol, who held the world No.1 slot for more than five years,
was delighted to see Matthew win the Commonwealth Games gold
medal in Delhi in an all-English final against James
Willstrop, a three-times champion at Canary Wharf.
Matthew’s triumph followed Nicol’s Commonwealth Games wins over
Australia’s David Palmer in Melbourne four years ago and
Canadian Jonathon Power in Malaysia in 1998.
 Nicol
said: “The competition for the No.1 position between Nick
Matthew and Ramy Ashour of Egypt is producing an
electrifying era for squash.
“Ramy is one of the most gifted players in the history of the
game but Nick produced the most consistent squash of his career
to claim the No.1 position for several months earlier this year.
“He thoroughly deserved his gold medal in Delhi and was clearly
the best player in the competition. He plays fast, aggressive,
attacking squash and not many players can get close to him at
the moment.”
Matthew’s triumph over Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in the
final at Canary Wharf in March this year helped him to reach the
No.1 slot for the first time in his career but his marathon
semi-final win over Willstrop was the outstanding match of the
tournament.
 Nicol
added: “Those two played themselves to an absolute standstill in
a match of incredible quality lasting two hours and ten minutes.
“Nick needed two hours of treatment from the physiotherapist to
get ready for the final the next day and it showed just how fit
and strong he is to get back on court less than 24 hours later
and dominate the final against Gaultier.”
Nicol is urging squash lovers to book their tickets early to
avoid disappointment. He added: “With squash of that quality, it
was no surprise that this year’s Canary Wharf tournament broke
all records by selling out every ticket on every day of the
competition.
“The crowds at Canary Wharf are probably the most knowledgeable
and vocal anywhere in squash and they obviously love cheering on
their home-based heroes.
“We are very proud of the fact that we are able to stage the
event at the East Wintergarden at Canary Wharf and over the
years it has become one of the most popular venues on the world
tour for players and spectators alike.
“We have wonderfully loyal and supportive Title Sponsors in ISS
Facility Services and we are enormously grateful to them and our
Host Sponsors Canary Wharf Group plc for making it possible to
showcase top professional squash in such a spectacular fashion.”
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Tickets on sale now
Tickets for the 2011 ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic are on sale
via Ticketmaster
BUY ONLINE
and the Ticket Hotline is
0844 847 2419
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