Perry and Massaro seeded to meet in Nationals final

Champion Evans faces possible rematch with Lust
By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent

Commonwealth Games Silver medallist Sarah-Jane Perry and former World No.1 Laura Massaro are seeded to meet in the final of the AJ Bell British National Squash Championships 2019 in Nottingham next week.

Perry and Massaro seeded one and two respectively met in the final of the 2015 championships which saw Perry emerge victorious as she completed a third five-game thriller in a row, taking out the reigning and previous champions in consecutive matches. Massaro avenged that defeat in the 2017 final to claim her fourth National title.

World No.6 Perry will face a qualifier in round one, with a potential semi-final meeting against four-time National champion Alison Waters, in what would be a repeat of last year’s semi in which Waters prevailed, avenging her 2015 last four defeat.

On the opposite side of the draw, former World Champion Massaro will begin her campaign against a qualifier, and if all goes to seeding, will face defending champion Tesni Evans in a semi-final showdown – a repeat of last year which saw the Welsh No.1 triumph in straight games.

Evans is in fine form, having reached the final of the Cleveland Classic in America. She overcame England’s Victoria Lust in the semi-finals in Cleveland and the two players are in the same quarter of the draw in Nottingham.

Also competing are Emily Whitlock and Millie Tomlinson, predicted to meet Waters and Massaro respectively in the quarter-finals.

Qualifying round take place between 12th and 13th February at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club with round one commencing on Thursday 14th February at the qualification venue and the University of Nottingham. Tickets to the Nationals can be booked via iSPORTstore.com and start from as little as £10. 

AJ Bell British National Squash Championships, Nottingham, February 12-17:

Women’s 1st Round.
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) vs. Qualifier
Lucy Turmel (Eng) vs. [8] Fiona Moverley (Eng)
[6] Emily Whitlock (Eng) vs. Julianne Courtice (Eng)
Qualifier vs. [3] Alison Waters (Eng)
[4] Tesni Evans (Wal) vs. Qualifier
Sarah Campion (Eng) vs. [5] Victoria Lust (Eng)
[7] Millie Tomlinson (Eng) vs. Qualifier
Alison Thomson (Sco) vs. [2] Laura Massaro (Eng) 

Article by DONNA HELMER (England Squash). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of  England Squash and Cleveland Classic