Willstrop confident after first-round victory in Canberra

LEEDS’S James Willstrop put on a display of superb squash in the Australian Open as he downed fellow countryman Chris Ryder and declared he played almost the perfect match.

With most of the attention on fellow Yorkshireman and world No 1 Nick Matthew – as well as Egyptian world No 2 Ramy Ashour – Willstrop has almost flown under the radar this year ahead of the first big tournament of the new season.

But he was happy with his game after defeating Ryder 13-11 11-8 11-0 and believes he is capable of beating the top two players in the world.

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If the men’s draw goes according to the event rankings, Willstrop should meet Ashour in the semi-finals on Saturday.

“I played some great squash, it was really good on my part, and he really didn’t do a lot wrong,” said 27-year-old Willstrop.

“It was just one of those bizarre games but I got on top early, I enforced myself physically and I got a bit of momentum there at five-love, and his head dropped a bit, because when you’re two-love, five-love down, it makes it very difficult.

“But 11-0 in the third game wasn’t a just score, but for me to put in a game like that is just great.”

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“I do believe that I can beat either of them (Matthew or Ashour) - of course all the attention’s going to be on them because they are No 1 and No 2 in the world, but I don’t go round thinking there’s any kind of hierarchy. I feel I’m on level terms with them. I just have to do it more consistently.”

In the women’s draw, Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf will meet Switzerland’s Gaby Huber in the second round after seeing off the challenge of Australia’s Vanessa Pickerd.

Duncalf – who lost in the semi-finals last year – eased to an 11-5 11-3 11-3 victory

MONDAY

SHEFFIELD’S world No 1 Nick Matthew made an impressive start to his title defence in the Australian Open when he beat South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger in straight games 11-7, 11-8, 11-9.

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The Englishman only looked in trouble briefly in the third game when he was behind 5-9, but stepped up the pace to storm home and wrap up a hard fought match.

“I knew it would be a tough match from the moment I saw the draw,” said Matthew. “I’m delighted to get off in three games because it could have got tough out there if I’d have lost that first game.”

The Yorkshireman, who turned 31 last month, now takes on Ong Beng Hee after the Malaysian overcame a slow start to beat New Zealand qualifier Martin Knight 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.

Leeds’s James Willstrop begins his bid today when he takes on fellow Englishman Chris Ryder.

Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf faces Australian Vanessa Pickerd in the women’s first round draw.

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