Barker eyeing Canary Wharf squash title

Barker, who won two PSA tournaments in 2009, reached the quarter finals at the East Wintergarden last March and now has set his sights on going all the way in his home tournament.

He said: "I really want to do better. I've not played too well in the last two years as it's come at the end of a long season, but this year I'm going to organise my schedule better and peak for it. It's my local tournament and I'm going to give it my very best and challenge for it.

"Most of the top guys play it because it's in a great venue with great support. It's a real milestone tournament on the calendar. It won't be an easy ride, which is good for the spectators, and guys like James Willstrop and Nick Matthew will be going for it too."

The increasing profile of the Canary Wharf Classic reflects the health of the sport in England. Barker is one of a crop of top players from these shores, although they are still eclipsed by Egyptians like world champion Ramy Ashour.

He said: "We have four players in the top 10 and six in the top 16, so the strength in depth is very good. We now need to turn that into challenging right at the top, where the Egyptians still dominate.

"The Egyptians have made the game more attacking and more exciting, whereas English players are traditional and perhaps a little bit boring. We've had to adapt, trying to attack as much as they are.

"It's going to take a time but it's just practice, practice, practice. We have the world number two in Nick Matthew, so we're not doing too badly. We just haven't quite got up to number one.

"But we have four players in the top 16, so the strength in depth is very good. "Squash in England at the highest level is looking really good, so long may that continue."

The Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October are another target for Barker and he plans to be there despite concerns over security.

He said: "It's our pinnacle. Unfortunately we're not in the Olympics, so the opportunity to win an individual and a doubles gold is massive for us. To finish your career saying you got a gold medal would be superb. The Australians are very strong but with no Egyptians we'll have a very good chance."

Squash fans were disappointed last year when the sport was not included in the Olympics from 2016. Barker felt it was the wrong decision.

He said: "It was absolutely tragic. It meant the world to us. We were holding out every hope we had, but for whatever reason it didn't get in and it's a real shame.

"The Olympics has lost a little bit of that tradition where, for every sport taking part, it's the pinnacle. For us that would have been the case, but for golf, tennis and football I can't imagine the players feel that's their pinnacle.

"It's a financial decision but we're still rallying and I'd love to see squash in the Olympics one day."

Unlike Andy Murray and other top tennis players, the world's best squash professionals are not household names. But the lifestyles, if not the rewards, are very similar according to Barker.

He said: "It's probably not too dissimilar to being a tennis player. We travel every week, or every other week, to a tournament during the season, from August to May.

"In between the tournaments we sort of rent ourselves out to teams for league matches, so we get practice. I represent a couple of teams in England, one in Germany and one in Holland and I play for them whenever I can between tournaments in their national leagues.

"Then there's the training, two or three times a day in the gym or on the court. If you have any other contractual obligations, for me it's Wilson so I'll have the occasional exhibition match for them.

"It does get quite busy. It's not all fun and games, but it's something we love doing. We got into squash because we love it and it's amazing to do something we love as a full time job.

"Despite all the training and travelling and playing we still love it and hopefully we can make a little bit of money from it.

"It's not that easy. It's not as glamorous as most people think, jetting off for a tournament here or there, but it does have its rewards if you are willing to work hard. That feeling you get when you win a match, or particularly a tournament, you can't get that anywhere else.

"For me that makes it all worthwhile."

And if he adds a few more titles, including Canary Wharf, to his list of honours this year Barker will feel it's been more than worthwhile pursuing his dream.

The ISS Canary Wharf Classic is at the East Wintergarden from March 22-26. Tickets are available from canarywharfsquash.com.