Women's World Open NEWS

by John Flack

Madeline Perry is eagerly looking forward to playing in front of her home crowd at the World Open squash championship which takes place in Belfast later this month.

She insists she owes a debt of gratitude to a host of people in Northern Ireland who have helped her along the way.

It was the late Sid Moore who got the ball rolling when she took up the sport at the age of 11. Sadly he's no longer with us but there will be plenty of familiar faces in the crowd at the Boat Club and the Ulster Hall which are the venues for the showpiece.

Madeline is seldom at home these days as she is based in Halifax in West Yorkshire when she's not on the pro squash tour. She lives in a modest terraced house a short distance from the Queen's Sports Club where she plays and trains.

Unlike Nicol David, the world number one and top seed in Belfast who is a megastar back home in Malaysia, Madeline can walk down the streets of her adopted home unrecognised.

She enjoys life in England after moving there almost a decade ago through sporting necessity. After 13 years as Ulster number one, competition - or rather the lack of it - in the north was the reason for the move to England.

She became Ulster number one at the age of 16 but in those days education came first and she attended Queen’s University where she graduated with an Honours Degree in Geography.

With her qualification behind her, Madeline then dipped her toe in the world of professional squash and she’s been there ever since with three Commonwealth Games appearances under her belt and a best ever global ranking of six a few months ago.

Madeline admits the last few months of the build up to the World Open in her backyard haven’t been ideal. On Wednesday she will open her campaign with a first round tie with fellow-Irishwoman Aisling Blake from Sligo.
 

"To be honest, my build up has been a bit disjointed and I was ill with salmonella for three weeks but I am back in shape now and ready for the challenge. "It’s a shame that the draw paired Aisling and me together as one Irish player will be automatically knocked out. She’s also a good friend of mine and we’ve played together on Irish teams for years."

Madeline is seeded to reach the quarter finals and if she does so it’s likely she’ll meet second-ranked Dutchwoman Vanessa Atkinson as the tournament - which is backed by the NI Events Company, the Sports Council and Belfast City Council - moves from the Boat Club to a purpose-built all-glass court at the Ulster Hall from the second round onwards.