Nick Matthew Out Of Hong Kong Open

An ankle injury sustained in last week's Men's World Team Championship in Denmark has led England number one Nick Matthew to pull out of next week's Cathay Pacific Gale Well Hong Kong Open, the fifth PSA Tour Super Series squash event of the year.

Ranked five in the world and the top European in the PSA world list, Matthew had been enjoying the best form of his career. In July, the 29-year-old from Sheffield won the gold medal in the World Games for the first time, then last month claimed the prestigious British Open crown for the second time.

Leading defending champions England in a qualifying tie against Germany in Odense, Matthew twisted his ankle midway through the match - and was unable to take further part in the championship.

"I knew it wasn't as bad as when I injured my right ankle over two years ago - but it was still pretty nasty," said the Yorkshireman after announcing his decision to withdraw from the $145,000 Super Series Platinum event in its 23rd year in Hong Kong

"It was incredibly frustrating having to sit out the rest of the world teams. I now know how the coaches feel, but at least they're expecting not to play!"

Runner-up in 2004, Matthew would have been making his sixth appearance in the popular Hong Kong event.

"I've never been one to dwell on these things - I must try and use it to my advantage. It might be a blessing. As long as I can get back on court on the next two weeks, I should be OK for the World Open in Kuwait.

"We've got a busy schedule coming up, so at least there are plenty of opportunities to make up for not playing in Hong Kong.

"I'm as confident as I can be for the worlds," concluded the Englishman.

Matthew's withdrawal moves fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop into the event's top eight seeds - and he now meets Malaysian Ong Beng Hee - and elevates Finland's Olli Tuominen to 16th seed. The revised schedule also brings Englishman Joey Barrington into the main draw - where he faces ninth-seeded compatriot Adrian Grant.

Revised Hong Kong Open 1st round draw:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Qualifier
[11] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[5] David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier
[15] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Qualifier
[14] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Farhan Mehboob (PAK)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier
[16] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
[13] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Qualifier
[8] James Willstrop (ENG) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[10] Alister Walker (ENG) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Qualifier
[12] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Qualifier
[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Dick Lau (HKG)
[9] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier