Friday, March 29, 2024

Pearson: Nick’s England’s greatest ever player

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David Pearson (left) with Matthew and England team-mates Alister Walker and Peter Barker

Nick Matthew should be regarded as the “greatest English squash player” of all time and has been tipped to add to his three world titles by his long-standing coach.

 

David Pearson watched Matthew seal a famous hat-trick on Sunday as he beat French rival Gregory Gaultier three games to two in a thrilling final in Manchester.

The 33-year-old has won the sport’s showpiece event three times in the last four years and he joined a select and distinguished group of players – Australian Geoff Hunt; Pakistanis Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan; and Egyptian Amr Shabana – who have three titles to their name.

But Pearson, who has coached Matthew for 15 years, thinks there is more to come from the world number four.

“Nick still believes another one or two world titles are within his grasp,” Pearson told The Star. “He will still be in with a realistic chance of doing well in it for at least another year. Nick is still young in the body and keen as mustard so there is definitely another year and a bit left in him.

“Peter Nicol was No 1 for five years but in terms of titles Nick is probably the greatest ever English player there has ever been.

“For me, he is the greatest English squash player ever. Without a shadow of a doubt.

“There are not many people who have won three world titles, three British Open titles and double Commonwealth gold like Nick has.

“Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan won so much, it is very hard compare or compete with them but I think after that Nick is right up there.”

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