England star James targets New York return after hip-op’
James Willstrop, the double Commonwealth Games singles silver medallist who underwent a hip operation in September, expects to be out of action until the New Year.
In an exclusive interview in the latest edition of Squash Player magazine, the 31-year-old former world no.1 says he is likely to miss the World Championship in November and feels a more realistic aim is the Tournament of Champions in New York in January.
“If the tournaments happen [for me] in the autumn, they happen, but I’ve resigned myself to missing them,” he said. “Even if I’m able to walk on court, I wouldn’t be fit, so I’m not thinking about them.
“I’m tentatively looking at my favourite tournament, in New York. That’s the aim. Anything before that is a bonus.”
There is no danger of Willstrop rushing back, though. “I will be happy to play squash again at all,” he reasoned. “I’m not taking having a big operation like this for granted, especially at 31. If I’m coming back, I’ll happily wait!”
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