Recently crowned British Open Champion Nick Matthew is capitalising on his enforced layoff from the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour by focussing on next month's Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009, which will be staged at the Salmiya Club and Green Island Resort in Kuwait from 1-7 November.
It was an ankle injury sustained in this month's Men's World Team Championship in Denmark that forced the world No5 to pull out of this week’s Hong Kong Open. The 29-year-old had been enjoying the best form of his career, winning the Gold Medal in the World Games in July and then winning the prestigious British Open crown for the second time in September.
Since twisting his ankle midway through an England qualifying tie against Germany, which resulted in him being unable to take any further part in his country’s title defence, the English No1 and British National Champion has been focussing on fitness work in the gym and will be back on court next week.
"It was a disappointment to pull out of Hong Kong – but I have been using the time to my advantage. In many ways, it's been a blessing," said the Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009 fifth seed.
Matthew is looking forward to his eighth appearance in the World Open since making his debut in the 2002 championship in Belgium. It was two years ago that he celebrated his best run in the event in Bermuda, where he reached the semi-finals.
"I'm looking forward to competing in the Kuwait World Open – I'm as confident as I can be," concluded the Englishman.
The Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009, which will be held in the memory of His Highness Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah The Patriarch Amir, in whose name the trophy shall be presented, will include a spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremony as well as hosting an Official Championship Gala Dinner.
The event also boasts a prize-fund of US$277,500 - the largest ever offered by any World Open or World Tour event.
Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009 1st round draw:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Mansoor Zaman (PAK)
[29] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[11] James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Robbie Temple (ENG)
[28] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) v Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[8] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Yasir Butt (PAK)
[18] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [Q] Scott Arnold (AUS)
[15] Alister Walker (ENG) v Mark Krajcsak (HUN)
[30] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Renan Lavigne (FRA)
[4] Amr Shabana (EGY) v [Q] Shaun le Roux (ENG)
[24] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
[12] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)
[22] Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Stephen Coppinger (RSA)
[6] David Palmer (AUS) v [Q] Julien Balbo (FRA)
[25] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Ben Ford (ENG)
[9] Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Stephane Galifi (ITA)
[26] Joey Barrington (ENG) v Amr Swelim (ITA)
[21] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[10] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Chris Ryder (ENG)
[19] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Martin Knight (NZL)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) v [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[17] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[14] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Q] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN)
[23] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX)
[20] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
[16] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
[27] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) v [Q] Yann Perrin (FRA)
[5] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q] John Rooney (IRL)
[31] Tom Richards (ENG) v [Q] Arthur Gaskin (IRL)
[13] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY)
[32] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO)
For further information, visit the Kuwait Men’s World Open 2009 Official Website www.kuwaitworldopen2009.com