Ross Confirms Junior Promise - At Thirty One!

Fifteen years after beating Peter Nicol for the second time in a British Junior Open final to round off a glittering career as a junior, Surrey's Stacey Ross has returned from a nine-year layoff from the game to win his first significant senior tournament - beating both the Scottish and Welsh number ones en-route to the North of Scotland Open title in Aberdeen.

It was in 1984 that Ross, now 31, from Sutton, won the U12 British National title - picking up the U14 and U16 titles over the next four years. In an international field in 1987, he triumphed in straight games over Nicol - one of the most successful players of all-time, who recently celebrated his 60th month at the top of the senior world rankings - in the British Junior U14 Open final. Two years later he repeated his success over the then Scotsman in the U16 Open final.

"As a junior, I really enjoyed my squash, but once I discovered I couldn't give it 100%, I decided to stop altogether. For me it was all or nothing," explained Ross.

"I wanted to try something different."

The child prodigy went to work in the City of London, as a money broker - and did not touch a squash racket or go near a squash court for nine years!

But the lure of squash eventually returned - and Ross abandoned his pinstripe suit to pursue life as a squash professional.

"My friends told me I was wasting my time, but I wanted to see if I could make my mark - and I was now prepared to give it 100%," said Ross.

He trained hard and joined the Professional Squash Association some three years ago, and began the slow climb up the world rankings.

Last month, Ross celebrated his first appearance in a PSA Tour event final - and led 2/1 in the climax of the Belgium Open in Brussels before losing to Italy's Davide Bianchetti, ranked 17 places higher in the world.

A week later in the BSPA Head Grand Prix event in Aberdeen, Ross - seeded only to reach the last eight - pulled off the best win of his career by beating Scotland's top seed John White, the world No11 and former world No1, in four games in the quarter-finals. Then in the final, he fought back from a game down to defeat Welsh champion Alex Gough, the title-holder and former world No5, 9-11 11-10 11-9 11-6 in 75 minutes.

"Beating John White was like winning the Cup Final for me - but then to go on and beat Alex Gough and win the tournament is a massive confidence-booster for me," said Ross afterwards.

"I knew that if I could be consistent, I could be a handful for anyone. I couldn't be more pleased about this success.

"Now I genuinely know that I can beat anyone - and I want to build on this."

Ross and his wife Deborah now have a four-month son Charlie. "I've always struggled when I play abroad, and seem to do better in tournaments nearer home - and now I have a new distraction to deal with!

"But this win has given me a new lease of life and I'm determined to capitalise upon it."

After a schedule of around one tournament every two months, Ross is now planning to compete in one PSA event per month - and next has his eyes on this month's Swiss Open in Geneva, where he is the No3 seed. He then plans to play in the Irish Open and the Mega Italia Open in Italy.

"I've still got three good years in me - and I feel I can still improve," added the rejuvenated 31-year-old comeback hero who represents UniSport Guildford in the National League.

Ross's coach Ian Robinson, who is also the Guildford club team manager, praises his number one for ignoring the advice he gave him some years ago: "I advised him that he should go and get a job - but, to his credit, he ignored this and stuck to his belief.

"Stacey thoroughly deserves this success after grinding his way back over the last few years," added Robinson. "He is a great talent and is so hungry for success."