Matthew aiming to repeat Canberra joy

The 31-year-old, from Sheffield, is drawn against South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger in the first round and while he is expected to progress without little trouble, the reigning World Open champion is taking nothing for granted against the world No 35.

“He’s a tricky customer and quite an unorthodox player,” said Matthew, who defeated world No 2 Ramy Ashour in last year’s final

“He can be quite tricky to read so I need to make sure I’m on my game.

“But I’ve had a good summer in terms of rest and then preparation, it was a good training camp again in the US.

“I don’t feel any extra pressure going into the event as world No 1, it doesn’t really matter where I’m ranked because the experience I have gained over the years should stand me in good stead.”

Leeds’s James Willstrop has also made the trip Down Under for what is seen as the first big tournament of the 2011-12 season and will face fellow Englishman Chris Ryder tomorrow.

In the women’s draw, Harrogate’s world No 2 Jenny Duncalf leads the British charge and will once again have her work cut out in trying to deny dominant world No 1 Nicol David another title.

After facing an as-yet-unknown qualifier in tomorrow’s first round, Duncalf should ease through to the last four where she can expect to face Ireland’s Madeleine Perry, the in-form fourth seed who clinched the Singapore women’s Masters last month.

David gets her bid underway against Australia’s Sam Davies.