 Yorkshire's
Jenny Duncalf and Londoner Alison Waters – ranked
three and five, respectively in the world – are set to meet in
the women's final of the British National Squash Championships
in Manchester this month for the third time in the past three
years, according to the draw which is issued today.
Both women are at the top of their game: Defending champion
Duncalf, winner of the title in 2007 and 2009, leapt to a
career-high No2 in the world rankings in December after two
successive wins over the sport's most dominant woman Nicol
David, the Malaysian who has topped the rankings since August
2006.
Meanwhile Waters, champion in 2008 and bidding to reach the
final for the fifth time since 2005, has already notched up one
WISPA World Tour title this year and – after hitting a
career-best world No5 ranking this month - believes she is
"playing some of the best squash I have played".
 Favourite
Duncalf opens her 2010 campaign against a qualifier – and is set
to face 11-times Irish champion Madeline Perry, the third
seed, in the semi-finals. The 32-year-old from Banbridge, near
Belfast, also boasts a win over Nicol David – on the same
National Squash Centre all-glass court, during last year's
British Open – and ended a 45-month losing run by beating
Duncalf in the Premier League last November.
Second seed Waters also lines up against a qualifier in the
first round – and will expect a tough test in the semi-finals
against England team-mate Laura Massaro, the fourth seed
from Preston in Lancashire who will no doubt be the crowd's
favourite.
Women's 1st round draw:
[1] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) v Qualifier
[7] Lauren Briggs (Essex) v Qualifier
[3] Madeline Perry (Ireland) v Lauren Siddall (Yorks)
[5] Tania Bailey (Lincs) v Fiona Moverley (Yorks)
[8] Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) v Victoria Lust (Beds)
[4] Laura Massaro (Lancs) v Qualifier
[6] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx) v Emma Beddoes (Warwicks)
[2] Alison Waters (Middx) v Qualifier |
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