White Relishes Home-Coming For Dunlop British Open At Nottingham University

John White, the hard-hitting Scottish number one who lived in Nottingham for five years until last year, returns to his training base at the University this week for the first time since moving to the USA to compete in the Dunlop British Open, which gets underway on Friday.

Staged at the University of Nottingham for the first time, the historic British Open - with roots back to the early 1920s and including world-class men's, women's and masters events - will feature the first all-glass court ever to be seen at the University, leading to finals next Monday (18 September).

Whilst Nottingham has long been a magnet for the world's leading squash players, most are attracted to the thriving Nottingham Squash Club, which now has the England Squash Gold Charter.

But White, now based in Philadelphia with his wife and four young children, moved to Nottingham to work with the University's Director of Sport and Physical Recreation Vaughan Williams. A highly successful partnership ensued which led White to the top of the world rankings in March 2004, following two major PSA Tour title victories the previous year (English Open and PSA Masters) and success in the British National Championships the previous month.

"It's going to be great to be in Nottingham again - back at my old training ground - I'm really looking forward to it," said White, on his return to the UK after competing in the World Open in Egypt.

"I've kept in touch with Vaughan since I've been in the States, and when he told me there was a chance of the British Open coming to the University, I assured him that, if so, mine would be the first entry!

"When we first met, we'd talked about hosting a major squash event at the University. So, to get the British Open - one of the most prestigious tournaments on the international circuit - is fantastic and I'm really excited about it for Vaughan.

"It'll be a great venue, the courts are excellent - and Vaughan and his team will really do a good job."

White will be joined by wife Susie on his return to the East Midlands city: "We're looking forward to catching up with a lot of our old friends," said the 33-year-old, currently ranked 11 in the world.

"But as soon as I arrive in Nottingham, I've arranged to meet up with Vaughan to have a 'refresher' training session with him."

White, unseeded in the 5-star PSA Tour event, faces top seed Amr Shabana, the world No1 from Egypt, in the first round on Friday afternoon.

"Last time we met, he took me out in four games in the PSA Masters in Bermuda in April - but that was just after the Commonwealth Games, and I'd gone straight on to New Zealand for an exhibition series."

In fact, White boasts a 3/2 lead over Shabana in their head-to-head tally on the PSA Tour. "I beat him in three in Chicago last year, in the final of the Windy City Open. We've both got an attacking game - I like playing him," explained White, who holds the world record for hitting a squash ball - at 172 mph!

But White acknowledges that one aspect of the move to the USA is not ideal for his squash: "The move to the states has been great for the family, and training is not a problem - but what you lack is match fitness, as you haven't got the same opportunity to hit with fellow world top 20 players like you have here in Europe."

He reached the second round of the World Open earlier this month after beating rising Dutch star Laurens Jan Anjema 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8 in 68 minutes.

"I thought I played extremely well against Anjema in the World Open - it was as if the old John White came out that day!

"Then, after the World Open, I went to Dubai to play a series of exhibition matches with Peter Nicol for our racket brand Prince - and that provided a good workout and helped me sharpen up my game."

This will be White's ninth appearance in a British Open - and his third in Nottingham, after disappointing performances in the previous two in 2003 and 2004 at the Albert Hall.

"Being at the University is really going to inspire me, I'm sure. I just can't wait to get my matches underway."