Squash Elite Head For Nottingham For Dunlop British Open

A galaxy of squash stars - including nine world number ones and six world champions - will arrive in Nottingham this week for the 2006 Dunlop British Open. Staged at the University of Nottingham for the first time, the historic Championships - with roots back to the early 1920s and this year featuring world-class men's, women's and masters events - gets underway on Friday (15 September) leading to finals on the all-glass court on the following Monday.

World number ones Amr Shabana and Nicol David head the men's and women's fields, respectively. Shabana, whose second World Open title last year led to his becoming Egypt's first world No1 this year, takes on Scotland's John White in the men's first round.

The 2006 Dunlop British Open, promoted by the internationalSPORTgroup, represents a real 'home-coming' for former world number one White, who trained under the University's Director of Sport and Physical Recreation Vaughan Williams for several years before setting up home in the USA last year.

Nicol David has become Malaysia's most successful sports star ever since winning the British Open crown for the first time last year. The Amsterdam-based world champion faces New Zealand's world No12 Shelley Kitchen in the women's first round.

England's new No1 James Willstrop leads domestic interest in the men's event. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman from Pontefract was runner-up last year - and is raring to go, despite being struck down by food poisoning on the eve of the World Open in Egypt at the beginning of the month

"I was devastated to miss out on playing in the event that I had worked throughout the summer in preparation for," said Willstrop on his return to Pontefract.

"So I've not had the ideal preparation for the British Open - but it's a massive event and I am raring to play again," said the 6' 4" fourth seed.

"The British Open is huge, it's such a big tournament, so prestigious. I'm sure the hard work I put in over the summer will pay off, and perhaps the lack of match practice in the World Open will make me fresher than the other guys."

Willstrop, ranked four in the world, faces Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar in the first round. "I used to play him a lot in the juniors - but he's a very hard worker and has improved massively recently," said Willstrop of the world No12.

"I've got a lot of respect for him, I know how good he is. I'll try not to think about who I'm playing, but just play the best game I can," explained the top Englishman.

English interest in the women's championship is led by 'local' player Tania Bailey, the world No7 and England No1 from Lincolnshire. The 26-year-old from Stamford, who was runner-up in the Malaysian Open in July, is enjoying her best career-run since reaching the British Open final in 2002.

Australia's former world No1 and record five-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald heads a star cast in the masters competitions, with events ranging from Over-35 to Over-70 age-groups. Fitz-Gerald is seeded to retain the Women's O35 title she won for the first time last year.

Men's 1st round draw:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) v John White (SCO)
[8] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Qualifier
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
[6] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Lee Beachill (ENG)
[5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v Qualifier
[2] David Palmer (AUS) v Chris Simpson (ENG)

Women's 1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[7] Tania Bailey (ENG) v Qualifier
[6] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Qualifier
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG)
[8] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Engy Kheirallah (EGY)
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Alison Waters (ENG)