Willstrop Relishes 'Mouth-Watering' Line-Up In Manchester Gerrard Grand Prix
England's fastest-rising squash star James Willstrop is relishing a 'mouth-watering' line-up in the Gerrard Grand Prix Championship at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 23-26 September.
"You only have to look at the line-up - it's real quality," said the 22-year-old from Yorkshire who has become an adopted Mancunian as a leading member of the National League-winning Manchester/Pontefract squad.
Willstrop, who leapt from the status of World Junior Champion in December 2002 to No5 in the senior world rankings in just over two years, is joined in the eight-man event at Sportcity by Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the World Champion, the World No1 and the reigning Gerrard Grand Prix Champion; Englishmen Lee Beachill and Nick Matthew, ranked 2 and 9 in the world; Australian Anthony Ricketts, the world No6; Scotland's world No10 John White; and Egyptians Amr Shabana and Karim Darwish, ranked 7 and 12, respectively.
"It should be a huge display of great squash over the four days. It's a tournament I'm really looking forward to – it's superbly well-organised and always has a good feel to it," enthused the 6' 4" Yorkshireman who has already picked up four senior World Tour titles after a record-breaking junior career which included British National and British Open titles at all age-groups!
Willstrop faces top seed Thierry Lincou in the opening match of the tournament at 6.00pm on Friday (23 September). The last time the pair met, Willstrop beat France's best player of all-time in the final of the Canary Wharf Classic in London.
After taking on fellow 'Manchester Group' players Amr Shabana, a former world champion, and John White, a former British champion, Willstrop will appear on the spectacular all-glass court at the National Squash Centre for the finals day (Monday) play-off for positions 1-8.
"Manchester is really my second training base, so I love playing on the courts there," explained Willstrop, who has appeared in National League, British National Championships and last year's Gerrard Grand Prix at Sportcity. "I've now played several tournaments at the centre, so it has good memories for me.
"The Nationals at the NSC is one of the best tournaments there is – and Manchester City Council deserve a lot of credit for what they've done for squash in the area. It's first class," exclaimed Willstrop.
Asked about the 'group' format of the event, Willstrop explained: "If last year is anything to go by, it will be quite cut-throat – you've got to be on your guard from the outset.
"It's quite full-on! You've got to be ready to perform from the start. But it's good that there are quite a few events like this nowadays, so we're used to the system."
Willstrop will be competing in the St Louis Open in the USA before arriving in Manchester for the Gerrard Grand Prix. "I feel in good form at the moment – it's early in the season so far, and I haven't had a lot of match practice.
"But the training's been going well – and I expect to play well in the Gerrard," concluded the Pontefract star.
Tickets for the 2005 Gerrard Grand Prix are available exclusively from www.isportticketing.com or by telephone on 07973-544719.