Willstrop wins canary wharf squash title for third time

By Simon Hayes on March 18, 2008 5:36 PM |

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James Willstrop won the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic for a third time with a battling performance in a gruelling final against Australian Cameron Pilley.

Willstrop fought back from the brink of collapse to overturn a 2-1deficit in games as Pilley came close to a shock result.

The Reading-based Pilley played fast, controlled and aggressive squash to establish a 2-1 lead against the world number four from Pontefract, who was exhausted following a punishing tournament schedule in which he has collected five titles already this year.

The number seven seed from New South Wales began solidly and fought back from 7-4 down to win the opening game 11-9 before a capacity audience at the superb East Wintergarden venue.

Willstrop heeded the words of advice from his father Malcolm between games and resumed with a more focused approach.

However, he still had resist some ferocious competition from Pilley before clinching the game with a stunning kill shot after Pilley had played an amazing shot with the racket behind his back.

Pilley grew in confidence and when he took the third game, after leading throughout, a major upset was on the cards. But Willstrop dug deep into his physical reserves and at 6-6 in the fourth the match swung his way.

Pilley was in uncharted territory and visibly wilted as Willstrop reeled off the next five points. He maintained the momentum throughout the fifth game and clinched victory after 78 minutes of brutal combat.

Willstrop paid tribute to his opponent, saying: “Cameron may be ranked 20 in the world but he clearly has the game to be up there with the best. He has shown that this week in every game he has played.

“I am just delighted and relieved to have won the tournament. I am looking forward to a complete rest and forgetting about squash for a few days to let my body heal and recover.

“I love playing squash but the travelling takes a toll on the mind and the body and that match hurt. That was painful, extremely painful.

“Winning this tournament is special. It gets bigger and better every year. The Canary Wharf venue is fantastic. It's right up there with the best venues in the world and the audiences are brilliant. The London crowds are very knowledgeable and love to get involved, which the players appreciate. Any event that sells out every night is obviously good for the game and the players love coming here.”

James Willstrop (Eng) beat Cameron Pilley (Aus) 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 (78 mins)

In the Women’s International Challenge, played before the men's final, Nicol David (Malaysia) beat Alison Waters (England) 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-1 (41 mins)

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk