Top class squash returns to the East Wintergarden next week when some of the best players in the world battle it out to win the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic. This year's tournament promises to be one of the best, with World Champion Nick Matthew hot favourite to retain the title he won in style last year. He faces hard contest, not least from fellow-Yorkshireman James Willstrop, a three-time Wharf winner, as well as former world number one Gregory Gaultier of France.
Tournament co-organizer, and former World Champion, Peter Nicol is excited about the quality of the players on show, particularly the currently domineering Matthew - who also won the Common wealth Games title last year, and is ranked number one in the world. Nicol said: "He's a very impressive young man. Nick's got the physical attributes. He's tall, strong, and he's learned how to play squash better and better. He's a extraordinary guy and a amazing squash player.
"Unless he goes victorious all year, he can't top this year. He'll be looking to do what he's done every year and improve and learn as he goes forward and stay on top."It won't be easy for Matthew, with abundance of other top players out to steal the crown he won for the first time last year. One of those is three-time Wharf winner James Willstrop,"James is hugely talented," said Nicol."On his day he can beat anyone, although he really struggles against Nick Matthew. He'll be looking to get through to play Nick, but there are a few obstacles on the way.
"The guy who's coming back from injury and was world number one for a short time is Greg Gaultier. You can't write him off, and after a long break he's getting back into it. He'll be physically good, spiritually fresh, and he's always difficult to beat. Then there's Peter Barker, who has improved a lot and made a few semi-finals in major events. It's his home venue, although he hasn't always done mainly well here. He made the semis last year, and has a lot of capacity. If he believes in himself he can take the next step to get into finals and then win them.
Tournament co-organizer, and former World Champion, Peter Nicol is excited about the quality of the players on show, particularly the currently domineering Matthew - who also won the Common wealth Games title last year, and is ranked number one in the world. Nicol said: "He's a very impressive young man. Nick's got the physical attributes. He's tall, strong, and he's learned how to play squash better and better. He's a extraordinary guy and a amazing squash player.
"Unless he goes victorious all year, he can't top this year. He'll be looking to do what he's done every year and improve and learn as he goes forward and stay on top."It won't be easy for Matthew, with abundance of other top players out to steal the crown he won for the first time last year. One of those is three-time Wharf winner James Willstrop,"James is hugely talented," said Nicol."On his day he can beat anyone, although he really struggles against Nick Matthew. He'll be looking to get through to play Nick, but there are a few obstacles on the way.
"The guy who's coming back from injury and was world number one for a short time is Greg Gaultier. You can't write him off, and after a long break he's getting back into it. He'll be physically good, spiritually fresh, and he's always difficult to beat. Then there's Peter Barker, who has improved a lot and made a few semi-finals in major events. It's his home venue, although he hasn't always done mainly well here. He made the semis last year, and has a lot of capacity. If he believes in himself he can take the next step to get into finals and then win them.
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