Strong International Field for Palmerston PSA

This week InspireNet SquashGym in Palmerston North hosts the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic.This is the fourth year the event has included a PSA section and the 2015 edition has added a WSA event which will see a number of top international women come to Palmerston North for the first time.

The tournament has $15,000.00 prize money for the men, and $10,000.00 for the women.

Tournament Director Grant Smith says an incredible international flavour will be seen at SquashGym. "Players in the men’s and women’s main draws from Australia, England, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Taiwan as well as New Zealand taking to the courts.”

Top seed for the men’s event is Malaysia’s Nafiizwan Adnan. The world number 35 will start the week as favourite but will not find it easy with the next three players in the draw holding world rankings of 50 (Campbell Grayson, NZ), 51 (Raphael Kandra, Germany) and 52 (Martin Knight, NZ). “Adnan’s ranking does not look a lot higher on paper, but being a top 35 player in the world often means he gets into the main draws at some of the world’s biggest events including the recent British Open,” says Mr Smith. “He lost first round to world number 3 Gregory Gaultier but stepping on court with this type of calibre player will give him a great ‘leg up’ on his competition this week.”

New Zealand’s Martin Knight is last year’s defending champion but with increased prize money and status, he will be fourth seed this week. “He will be on course for a semi-final berth against top seed Adnan but will have to be on his game in early rounds to make sure he gets to the semi-finals with enough energy to challenge the world number 35.”

Campbell Grayson will also fancy his chances on the other side of the draw to make the final on home soil. Palmerston North’s Luke Jones who was the New Zealand Junior Champion in 2014 has been given a wildcard into the first round where he will meet countryman Martin Knight. He will be keen to impress in front of home fans.

Top seed in the women’s draw is Joey Chan from Hong Kong. She is the highest ranked player to come to Palmerston North this year with a world ranking of 27 but has been as high as 20 (October 2013). Her recent form includes a first round loss to Carmille Serme in the British Open last month where Serme was the eventual winner. “Chan played well enough that day to take a set of Serme. Like Adnan, recent match play
against the world’s top players should hold her in good stead this week,” says Mr Smith.

The second seed in the draw is Japan’s Misaki Kobayashi with a world ranking of 37. Closely followed behind the top two seeds are New Zealand’s Amanda Landers-Murphy and Megan Craig. They will both see this week as a great opportunity to improve their world rankings of 45 and 52 respectively.

The top local chance in the draw is SquashGym’s Danielle Fourie who has recently joined WSA for the first time and has a provisional ranking of 228. “Fourie has been the top women’s player in the district for the past five years and at 22 should see some of her best years ahead of her.” Danielle has been given a wildcard into the main draw and will face sixth seed Sarah Cardwell of Australia on Thursday evening.

The qualifiers in the womens draw have been found and kiwis Rebecca Barnett, Ellie Epke and Mickayla Kerr have made it through to the main draw with Yura Choi of South Korea. In the qualifiers of the mens draw the kiwis hopes are still alive with Lance Beddoes, Kashif Shuja and Evan Williams claiming a place in the main draw with Chris Binnie of Jamaica claiming the final spot. 

Full draws can be found here

 PSA DRAW

 WSA DRAW 

The women’s final is for 1.30pm and the men’s at 2.30pm on Sunday.

The wider tournament has attracted 170 players throughout the grades which will make for a busy weekend at the SquashGym Club. Entry to the tournament for spectators is free.

Games will be streamed live and all previous games can be watched here 

Games to be streamed on Thursday include

• 5:30pm - [Q] Evan Williams (NZL) vs [5] Rex Hedrick (AUS)
• 6:30pm - [8] Paul Coll (NZL) vs [Q] Kashif Shuja (NZL)
• 7:30pm - [Q] Lance Beddoes (NZL)vs [7] Declan James (ENG)
• 8:30pm - Matthew Hopkin (AUS) vs [2] Campbell Grayson (NZL)