Women's World Open NEWS

by Howard Harding

More than ten years after last visiting Belfast in her England Junior International squash debut as a 16-year-old, British champion Tania Bailey is preparing to return to the Northern Ireland capital next week in a bid to win the sport's most coveted prize, the Women's World Open Championship.

The world's most prestigious squash event – and the biggest ever to be staged in Northern Ireland - will be held in Belfast from 20-26 November, with action from the last sixteen onwards staged on a state-of-the-art four glass-walled court in the auditorium of the city's world-renowned Ulster Hall.

Tania has enjoyed a distinguished career in squash. Twice the European Junior champion, she rounded off her glittering junior career by securing the world title in Brazil in 1997. Since turning pro in 1998, Tania has reached 12 Tour finals and won four titles. In February this year she clinched her first British National Championship title – later becoming England No1 for the first time.

The new England number one is enjoying her best form for a number of years, leading England to success in the Women's World Team Championship in Canada in October – bringing the title back home after a six-year absence, and reaching the final of the Hong Kong Open last month.
 

"I've trained harder this summer than ever before – and it really paid off as I felt brilliant at both the World Teams in September and Hong Kong Open in October. I was unbeaten in Canada and had some good results, including two wins over Vanessa Atkinson. "I feel as good about my game as I have ever done. "It wasn't the first time I've been in a winning England team, but this was extra special, as I was team number one and captain. Even though we were favourites, we felt under great pressure – but winning the title was definitely one of the great moments of my life."

Belfast Prospects

Bailey is drawn to face Malaysia's Sharon Wee, ranked 19 in the world, in the first round.

"I've never lost to Sharon – but we haven't played each other for ages (since the World Team Championships in 2002). If I get through, I'll probably meet Alison Waters, my England team-mate and a good friend. She's probably the strongest player in the 9/16 seeding group, so it would be a tough match. "It's not only disappointing for both of us to meet at this stage, but a shame for our coach Paul Carter – who will have to sit out the match without speaking to either of us between games! "But, on the other hand it would be good to have a tough game early on in the event – and, if we do meet, at least one of us will get through to the next round." "The World Open is such a special event – I remember my first in Stuttgart in Germany in 1998 when, in my first match on an all-glass court in a big venue, I was thrashed in the second round by Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who went on the win the title." "I've played in it seven times, but not managed to get past the last eight yet. It's the biggest event to play in – to be 'world champion' is what you dream of."

Malaysia's Nicol David is the player of the moment. Since winning the Qatar Airways Challenge in India in July, David has amassed a 22-match unbeaten run which features five WISPA titles including the Hong Kong Open - where she beat Tania in the final - and British Open, and the world No1 is seeded to retain her world title in Belfast.

"Nicol is so quick and makes so few errors, and she just keeps on going – making it quite a struggle to keep up with her.   "But there's more pressure generally nowadays - all the girls are improving all the time, they are so much fitter and stronger than they used to be."