Champion Matthew Forced Out Of Nationals

Defending champion Nick Matthew has been forced to withdraw from next week's British National Championships in Manchester after failing to recover from an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman from Sheffield - the world No6 originally named as top seed for the 2007 event - sustained the ligament injury in last month's Canadian Classic in Toronto, and has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy treatment since then back on home soil.

"I'm gutted," said Matthew after succumbing to the inevitable. "It was exactly four weeks ago today that I tore the ligaments in my right ankle - and everybody told me it would be between eight to ten weeks before I'd be back on court.

"But it's testament to the great Physio and massage team I've had working on me here at the EIS (English Institute of Sport) in Sheffield that I almost made it. Led by Rob and Derry, they've seen me for around 2/3 hours a day for about four or five days a week since the incident," added Matthew.

"I'm already back running and doing light work on court - and that's better than I could have anticipated. It's just a pity I haven't got an extra week or so before the event starts."

Since winning the British National title for the first time twelve months ago, Nick Matthew went on to become the first home-grown Englishman since 1939 to win the British Open trophy - in addition to becoming the first ever holder of both the British Open and National titles simultaneously!

"I've been honoured to be the British National champion - and it's been massive to have held this and the British Open title as well. But whoever wins next week in Manchester will thoroughly deserve it - and luckily there are plenty of years ahead of me to try to win it back!"

In a redraw of the men's event, Matthew's Yorkshire and England team-mate James Willstrop is elevated to top seed. The 23-year-old world No9 from Pontefract, who was runner-up in 2005, led England to success in the World Team Championships later in the year in Pakistan.

Scotland's John White, champion in 2004, becomes the new second seed - and Yorkshire's three-times champion Lee Beachill is No3 seed.

Title-holder Tania Bailey, the world No5 from Lincolnshire, is seeded to retain the women's crown she won for the first time last year.

The sport's biggest UK domestic event takes place at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity from 13-18 February, following qualifying from Sunday 11 February. The NSC will also welcome competitors for the country's biggest Masters event, offering British National titles for men in age-groups from Over-35 to Over-70, and women from Over-35 to Over-55.