Video: Matthew eyes top spot in tough year

The Sheffield-born 29-year-old finished 2009 by narrowly missing out on the coveted top spot when defeat to Egyptian Ramy Ashour in the Saudi mInternational, with the top ranking going to his 22-year-old conqueror instead.

But, after slipping to defeat to Ashour at the Tournament of Champions last month, Matthew has gone on to claim two high-level titles, both at the expense of fellow Yorkshireman and England team-mate James Willstrop, from Leeds.

It was an injury to Willstrop that enabled Matthew to retain his Swedish Open crown earlier this month, although Matthew quickly proved that was no fluke when he comprehensively defeated his great rival in the final of last week's British National Championships at the National Squash Centre.

That result meant Matthew retained another prestigious title and had the same outcome as the pair's infamous two-hour British Open duel at the same venue last September.

Matthew is in action at next week's North American Open in Richmond but already he has one eye on two major events later in the year, the Comm onwealoth Games and the World Open.

He knows that if he is to succeed Ashour as the world's leading player, those are the kind of events he needs to succeed in.

"I'll certainly be trying to become world No 1, but the main goal is just to make sure that I'm in contention for all the major tournaments this year," said Matthew.

"If I can do that and be consistent over the year then the ranking will hopefully take care of itself.

"After suffering with injuries in the last couple of years, I'm concentrating more on my actual performance and trying to perhaps not get so carried away.

"The two big events this year are, for me, the Commonwealth Games and the World Open, which will be the biggest-ever tournament in our sport, in terms of prestige and money."

Matthew will open his North American Open bid on Monday against Paraguay's Esteban Casarino. Willstrop faces Australia's Aaron Frankcomb.