England’s world number one Nick Matthew has confirmed his entry to September’s ROWE British Grand Prix Squash Championship in Manchester.
The ROWE British Grand Prix – Manchester 2011, one of the year’s nine PSA World Series championships and the biggest event to be staged in the UK in 2011, will take place at the National Squash Centre in Manchester from 19-25 September.
Matthew, the 30-year-old from Sheffield who last June became the first Englishman to top the rankings for six years, is delighted to be returning to the National Squash Centre.
"It's my favourite venue and I am really looking forward to playing there again,” said the illustrious Yorkshireman.
The venue, which was built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games Squash Championships, has been the scene of numerous Matthew triumphs. In February 2010, he won his third British National title on the spectacular all-glass show court – and a few months earlier he followed his remarkable success in 2006 when he became England’s first British Open champion for 67 years by winning the world’s most prestigious title for a second time at the NSC.
He previously won the British Grand Prix in Manchester in 2006, the same year that he won the British Open and the British Nationals.
But it was at the 2010 ROWE British Grand Prix that Matthew was struck down by food-poisoning on the eve of the event’s first round in Manchester.
“My experience last year will make my return to Manchester this year even more fulfilling – particularly with the fantastic crowds which events there always attract.
“And to play on that court as the world number one will be extra special,” added Matthew. “I can’t wait!”
The ROWE British Grand Prix, for the second year the biggest event to be held in England, will be the fourth PSA World Series event of the year, following the Australian Open in Canberra in August.