Willstrop keen to maintain standard

JAMES Willstrop will enter tonight’s Tournament of Champions semi-final in New York against fellow Englishman Daryl Selby as overwhelming favourite as he looks to preserve his world No 1 status.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Jan 2012, 22:45 BST

Willstrop’s performance in Monday’s 11-4 11-3 11-6 win against Essex’s Peter Barker at Grand Central Station was regarded by some onlookers as near-perfect as he looks to start 2012 in similar style to the way he ended last year – winning titles to lift himself above fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew to the top of the PSA World Tour’s ranking list.

The 28-year-old, from Leeds, said he needed to make sure he continued doing the same things which had taken him to the top of the men’s game.

“This is what you strive for, but once it is achieved, the expectations can be quite high,” said Willstrop. “It gives you a lift, but you have to continue to do all the things that got you to No 1.”

Top seed Matthew hopes to join Willstrop and Selby in the last four and was scheduled to play seventh seed Mohamed El Shorbagy, from Egypt, in the early hours of this morning.

Willstrop faces world No 11 Selby at 12 midnight tonight (UK time).