Nick Matthew in Praise of Allam's Open Experiment from ESR Media April 30, 2014
- World champion Nick Matthew praised British Open sponsor Dr Assem
Allam for staging last year’s tournament outdoors at Hull’s football
and rugby league stadium as he prepared to launch his bid for a fourth
Open title.
The 2014 Open has
returned indoors, to the city’s nearby Sports Arena, but Matthew is
fully in favour of experimenting with different sites for squash.
“I think the Allams
should be applauded for trying a unique venue,” said the Yorkshireman.
“Innovative venues that attract non-squash fans are always exciting to
play in.”
The triple world
champion says the 2014 Open is “right at the top” of his priorities
this year alongside the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the summer.
“It would be a career
highlight [to win a fourth Open title], especially to win it in
Yorkshire,” added Matthew, whose previous Open successes came in 2006,
2009 and 2012.
The 2013 PSA Player of
the Year has been enjoying a break from competitive play since winning
the Canary Wharf Classic in London in March and then helping
Benz-Bavarian Duffield to the Premier League final earlier this month.
“The most important
preparation I had was a bit of rest in Sea Island Resort in the
States!” he quipped. “I will be using the Europeans for vital match
practice before the British.”
Matthew teams up this
week with James Willstrop, Peter Barker, Daryl Selby and Adrian Grant
as England attempt to continue their domination of the European Men’s
Team Championship in Riccione in Italy.
The 33-year-old world
no.2 knows he will have to be at his best to fulfil his no.1 seeding at
the Open in front of his home crowd.
“The top seeds are all
in form and in their own unique ways will have targeted this event,” he
said. “There are always upsets too.”
The Open runs from May
12 to 18 at Hull’s Sports Arena. Get your tickets now from Ticketmaster
at www.britishopensquash.net/tickets/.
