Matthew: I Can Improve on 2013
from ESR Media

January 13, 2014 - Nick Matthew opens his 2014 PSA Tour campaign at the Tournament of Champions on Friday feeling he could better his astonishing 12 months last year.

The 33-year-old Yorkshireman finished 2013 in a blaze of glory with his third world title, his first Hong Kong Open and the world number one ranking.

However, he pointed out that his year – which also included World and European Team Championship titles in June and May respectively – did not begin quite as well.

“It’s going to be pretty hard to match 2013,” he said. "I’m certainly not planning to get married again this year! That was a highlight that will never be matched. It was an amazing year.

“My first half of 2013 could have been better, though. I might have got a C+ for that part of the year and an A for the end, so the first half I’m certainly going to look to improve on.

“I always try to go on the 80-20 principle. I stick with 80% of what has worked, as you can’t change too much when it has been successful – otherwise, you end up in no man’s land – but I always look to improve the other 20%.

“The first half of the year I’m probably going to play the same events as I did last year up to the end of March and finish with the Canary Wharf Classic. Then I will take April off tournaments and train to be ready to compete for the British Open and then go forward to the Commonwealths. They are a massive target, as they only fall every four years.”

The five-time British National champion, who took two weeks off over Christmas and New Year “to totally switch off and rest the mind as much as the body”, flies out to New York today.

“I’ve got a few practice matches and lots of training once I get out there,” he said. “I’ve also got one exhibition match against Bradley Ball at the Union Club, which is a club I train at when I’m in New York. The tournament starts on the 17th, so I’m just getting ready for that.”

With Ramy Ashour having pulled out of the TOC due to injury, Matthew will be in his favoured position at the top of the draw, where he will meet England team-mate Adrian Grant in the first round.