Confident Matthew Focussed On Gerrard Grand Prix

After a sensational run in last month's English Open in his hometown of Sheffield, England squash star Nick Matthew will be hoping for similar success in this month's Gerrard Grand Prix Championship in Manchester - which he considers "almost my second hometown".

Following the unprecedented success of last year's inaugural event, the Gerrard Grand Prix will take place at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester from 23-26 September - boasting a star-studded eight-man line-up headed by Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the World Champion, the World No1 and the reigning Gerrard Grand Prix Champion.

England international Matthew, ranked nine in the world, caused major upsets in August's opening event of the international squash season at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield where he beat both Lee Beachill and James Willstrop - ranked two and eight, respectively, in the world - on the way to an unexpected place in the final.

"I was doubly pleased with my performance in the English Open - not just because I beat both of my higher-ranked England team-mates, but that I handled the extra pressure that comes with playing in your own home town," said the 25-year-old who has already won two British titles this year.

"Not many top players on the international circuit have the chance to play for a major title on their doorstep, but the pressure to do well is enormous. So getting to the final was a real bonus, and it gave me a lot of confidence.

"But I had been playing well for the previous six months, so I was due a breakthrough!" conceded Matthew.

Beachill and Willstrop - both of whom have strong followings in the North West as a result of their exploits for National League champions Manchester/Pontefract - are also leading contenders for Gerrard Grand Prix success. But the pair have been separated in the initial play-off schedule, with Willstrop opening his campaign against Lincou, and Beachill playing in the same group as Matthew - the pair meeting on the second day (Saturday 24 September) for the first time since Sheffield.

"I'm currently spending a lot of my time in Manchester, at England squad training sessions at the National Squash Centre, so it's like home from home there," explained Matthew, who will be making his first appearance in the Gerrard event.

"It's a great venue with all the possible facilities you could need as a player - in fact there are not many better setups in the rest of the world," said the Yorkshireman.

Matthew is currently 100% focussed on his Grand Prix appearance - while Gerrard rivals Thierry Lincou, Lee Beachill and James Willstrop are competing the week before in the St Louis Open in the USA.

"I am deliberately pacing myself through the next important few months, and have chosen to spend the next few weeks training rather than competing - to be in prime condition for the Gerrard," Matthew explained. "I like playing on the all-glass court in Manchester, and I also really enjoy the group format of the event, where you can guarantee to get four tough matches over the four days.

"I'm going to Harrogate for the next few days, to spend some time with my coach David Pearson, the England National Coach. We'll spend the first few hours looking at videos of my English Open matches, to see if any parts of my game need tweaking," admitted Matthew.

The Gerrard Grand Prix will feature two pools of four players, leading to finals which will produce a 1-8 finish. Matthew faces Egypt's world No12 Karim Darwish on the opening day, with the Beachill match followed by the final group encounter against Australia's Anthony Ricketts, the world No6.