Injured Barker Withdraws From Dutch Open

Top seed Peter Barker has been forced to withdraw from the Dutch Open, the 4-Star PSA Tour squash championship which starts today in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The England international is struggling with an ankle injury which he aggravated last weekend in his semi-final match against compatriot Nick Matthew in the Qatar Classic.

The 26-year-old is clearly disappointed with his withdrawal from the $40,000 event which is being staged at Victoria Squash, the club Barker represents in the Dutch league.

"Unfortunately I have been advised to pull out of the forthcoming Dutch Open," said the world number nine.

"My ankle clearly needs some attention, so I can't compete in the tournament this week. I am gutted I am not playing," added the left-hander from London, who sustained the injury in Spain en-route to winning the Santiago Open earlier in the month.

The late withdrawal elevates Dutch champion Laurens Jan Anjema to top spot in the biggest men's tournament on Dutch soil this century. Australia's Cameron Pilley, Malaysia's Mohd Azlan Iskandar and England's Daryl Selby are the three other highest ranked players in the draw.

Julian Illingworth from the USA is now seeded to reach the quarter-finals, while New-Zealand's Kashif Shuja avoids the brutal qualifying competition due to Barker's absence.

The Dutch Open Squash 2009 starts today with first round of qualifying action and runs through to Sunday with the men's final scheduled for 2pm. More information about the championship can be found at the official tournament site www.dutchopensquash.nl

Revised 1st round draw:
[2] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Qualifier
[7] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) v Qualifier
[3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Qualifier
[6] Tom Richards (ENG) v Piedro Schweertman (NED)
[8] Julian Illingworth (USA) v Chris Ryder (ENG)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
[5] Joey Barrington (ENG) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[1] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Qualifier