World’s top two on collision course again as they vie for Yorkshire pride and title

Between them, the world’s top two players – Matthew has just regained his top PSA ranking from Willstrop after just one month – have dominated the men’s game for the last 13 months, a situation which does not look like changing any time soon.

The England team-mates take time out from worrying about world rankings and Tour titles this week by making the short trip across the Pennines to Manchester’s National Squash Centre.

But, as last year’s National Championships proved, nothing is too straightforward at the event with Willstrop surprisingly exiting in the last eight before Matthew was denied a fourth title and a third in as many years by Essex’s Daryl Selby.

The fierce, occasionally acrimonious rivalry between Yorkshire’s finest began nearly 12 years ago at the British Open qualifying stages when both were starting out in their professional careers.

On that occasion, Willstrop, aged 17, edged out Sheffield-born Matthew, just over three years his senior, with subsequent meetings between the two being shared almost equally.

In December, 2007, Leeds’s Willstrop beat Matthew in the final of the English Open in Sheffield. Little did anyone realise that would be the last time Willstrop would enjoy success over his fellow Yorkshireman.

There have been 18 meetings between the two since and Matthew has won every single one – including the recent final at the Tournament of Champions in New York when the 31-year-old capped his comeback from a two-month injury lay-off in victorious style at Grand Central Terminus.

It not only gave Matthew his first ToC title, but also saw him take back the world No 1 ranking he had held throughout last year, but which had gone to Willstrop at the start of January after he had ended 2011 with three successive tournament wins.

Willstrop remains world No 2, making it no surprise that many are predicting another final showdown in Manchester.

Huddersfield-born Lee Beachill is himself a former world No 1 and won the British National title three times. Now chief operating officer for the Professional Squash Association, the body which governs the men’s game, he is ideally placed to cast an eye over the intense rivalry that has existed between Matthew and Willstrop.

Unsurprisingly, 34-year-old Beachill – who was forced to retire from the world tour through injury in 2009 – says the sport can only benefit from the battle being waged at the top of the rankings between the two men, particularly as squash looks to continue expanding its appeal to both TV and live audiences around the world.

“Neither of them want to give an inch at the moment,” said Beachill.

“They are both producing fantastic squash and are at the top of their game – that’s why the rivalry is so great.

“Nick has enjoyed the upper-hand over James during the last couple of years or so, but James is playing the best squash of his life and should get the better of Nick, but then he went and bounced back last week in New York.

“There are a lot clashes in terms of styles, movement on the court and temperaments. And without being the best of buddies, they do have a healthy respect for what the other is capable of.

“But when that door closes on that back wall, there’s such an intense rivalry and it’s great for people watching.”

It was in Manchester nearly three years ago that Matthew and Willstrop produced their most infamous clash, enduring more than two hours of relentless, at times ill-tempered squash, before Matthew edged out Willstrop to take the British Open title. Matthew’s victory in New York came as something of a surprise, particularly as he was in his first tournament back after being sidelined with an adductor injury sustained in November’s Kuwait Cup.

While he recovered, he had to sit and watch Willstrop win three successive events and then take his world No 1 ranking away from him.

“I was definitely impressed with what James did towards the end of the year,” said Matthew. “The level of squash he was playing, you could not help but be impressed by.

“But, at the same time, I was jealous and almost bitter in a way because I was unable to do that myself. That frustration probably came out in the final in New York because I wanted to prove that I could still do it.

“I think people enjoy the rivalry, I know we always push each other harder every time we play. But last year at the Nationals proved that it is not just about James and me. There are a lot of other players around who can hurt you.”

As for Willstrop, there is obvious frustration at being unable to get the better of Matthew in recent times but his own rise to the top of the rankings – albeit for just one month – sees him remain fully confident in his own ability.

“I think most people realise we’re not great friends,” said Willstrop, who won the national title in 2006 and 2007. “But there is certainly a healthy respect for each other and the more recent matches have been – as always – fiercely contested and played in a good spirit.

“To be honest, I don’t really think about it (Matthew’s dominance) whenever we play. I know it’s there and the fact he’s built up a good string of wins against me in recent years, but I just make sure I’m more concerned with my game.

“If I was to focus too much on the fact it’s Nick I’m playing rather than my own natural game, that wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.”