Matthew relishing return to Canary Wharf
No1 seed tells Josh Richards he won’t toss his racket into Thames this year
WORLD No1 Nick Matthew was so “squashed out” after winning his first round tie at last year’s Canary Wharf Classic that he tossed his racket into the river Thames.
The popular London tournament was his eighth event in 10 weeks, a period in which he also juggled moving house and planning his forthcoming wedding. Matthew acknowledges now that he had taken on too much and it was affecting his love for the game.
But, 12 months on, the double Commonwealth champion is refreshed and relishing his return to East Wintergarden, where he takes on Scottish wildcard Alan Clyne in Monday’s first round, determined to storm all the way to Friday’s final.
“I’m going to enjoy it this time,” Matthew told City A.M. “I gave myself a hard time last year. You’re playing in this great setting, with a partisan crowd enjoying it and yet I wasn’t. That made it 10 times worse.
“I had played eight tournaments in two and a half months and I was squashed out. I’d taken too much on off the court as well. I’ve managed my schedule a lot better this year. There’s a fine line between being match-sharp and being burnt out. This year I feel like I’ve found the right balance.”
WRESTLING
Matthew’s attention will soon turn towards the Commonwealth Games, where he is the defending singles and doubles champion.
The 33-year-old is irked, though, that his sport is not part of the Olympic Games and has been overlooked for the 2020 programme in favour of wrestling – dropped then reinstated following a vote by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members after London 2012.
And though Matthew’s sights are firmly set on recapturing his Commonwealth titles in July, he also hopes Glasgow can show the IOC that squash is worthy of inclusion at a future Games.
“Two gold medals is the dream. But playing on this sort of platform and showing squash would be capable of being an Olympic event is also very important,” he added.
“When I think about why it isn’t, sometimes I have to box it up and throw away the key.
“I would invite members of the IOC to Canary Wharf to see the interest and the support. I would love to ask them why squash could not be part of the Olympics – the sport ticks all the boxes.
“There is a new IOC president now and I hope he can reconsider us for 2020, but I won’t get my hopes up.”