Willstrop and Serme share glory in Nottingham

Main squash story: Anglo-French battles at the EIC

For the first time ever, the squash European Individual Championships were held in England last weekend, at the University of Nottingham. James Willstrop made a remarkable comeback to the event - which he had not played in since 2004 - beating world number 1 Grégory Gaultier in 5 games, while Camille Serme clinched her sixth consecutive gold medal.

James Willstrop and Camille Serme, 2017 European Champions (Photo credit: eicsquash2017.com)

As surprising at it may sound, England had never hosted the EIC. Besides, their players had not featured in the event for a few years (the last ones were Chris Simpson in the men's in 2013 and Emma Beddoes in the women's in 2011). Not only it was unanimously viewed as a very well-run event ("The organizing commitee did a great job, said Camille Serme's and national French coach Signoret, and have brought a new momentum to the championship."), but there was also success on court for the home country, with James Willstrop's first European title. The former world number 1 had already put on a impressive performance to beat 2016 champion Borja Golan in the semis, and he carried on against favourite Grégory Gaultier in the squash final after a high quality encounter (7/11, 11/8, 11/8, 2/11, 11/8). Willstrop is the first English player to win the EIC since Chris Walker in ... 1993! “That was a brutal match at times,” he said Willstrop, (Source: eicsquash2017.com) “it’s hard to believe we’ve been playing each other like that for so long! Greg is a great champion, and I’m proud to beat him. It’s been a great event, thanks to all the sponsors, AJ Bell in particular, and Nottingham and the University for putting on the event in such a great venue. A special thanks to Malcolm (his dad and coach), for all he’s done for me over the years, this one is for you!"

The first ever EIC held in England was recognized as a success (Photo credit: eicsquash2017.com)

Although Camille Serme's sixth consecutive squash title was somehow expected - seed number 2 and her opponent in the final Millie Tomlinson sits 20 places below her in the world rankings - she impressed with the way she approached all of her four matches in the UoN. Especially in the final, which lasted 25 minutes and where she left only 7 points to Tomlinson. "We wanted Camille to be focused from the beginning to the end, for each and every rally, said Signoret, in order to play at a level that corresponds to her ranking, and without taking into account the ranking of her opponent. And she managed to do that." Although Serme says she tried "not to think too much about what I've achieved," she continues to compile an impressive record of accomplishments: this European title came only a few weeks after her gold medal at the World Games. But it's no secret that her ultimate goals are the World Champion crown as well as the number 1 spot. Her quest is taking her to Shanghai for the China Open, which starts on Thursday (see below , September hostspots).

What's been happening over the squash summer?

--- It was more than ever all about Egypt in the World squash Junior Championships, held in Tauranga, New Zealand at the end of July: not only the girls retained their titles in both the team and individual events - last year's runner-up Rowan Reda Araby upsetting her compatriot Hania El Hammamy in the final - but they also clinched the boy's gold medal for the first time in 4 years, thanks to 17 year-old Marwan Tarek. The Cairo-born beat number 1 seed Youssef Ibrahim in the semis, before ending France's hopes of a first ever gold medal: the final went to 5 games but Tarek came out as the winner against European champion Victor Crouin.      

Egypt extended their dominance on junior squash at the World Championships in July in New Zealand (Photo credit: www.wsfworldjuniors.com)

--- More success came for France at the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. Bronze medalist 4 years ago, Camille Serme went all the way without dropping a single game, including against Hong Kong's Joey Chan in the final. Chan had caused a massive upset in the semis, beating legend of the game Nicol David for the first time. Serme's compatriots Grégoire Marche (silver) and Mathieu Castagnet (bronze) also clinched a medal in the men's draw, but they were both beaten by German Simon Rosner. Squash was making its fifth appearance in the multi-sport event for non-Olympic programme sports in the city of Wroclaw - at the 33-court Hasta la Vista club, the largest squash club in the world, and "our showcase, at a superb venue with great crowds, was an overwhelming success," said WSF president Jacques Fontaine.

Simon Rosner and Camille Serme lived up to their seedings and won the World Games at the end of July in Poland (Photo credit: psaworldtour.com)

--- Joelle King was the hero of the World Doubles Championship in Manchester, England. The Kiwi retained both her titles in the women's and mixed events, partnering with Amanda Landers-Murphy and Paul Coll, while local hero Alison Waters had to settle with two silver medals. Bronze medalists in 2016, Australia's Ryan Cuskelly and Cameron Pilley upset Scotland pair and defending champions Alan Clyne/Greg Lobban in the men's final.  

Kiwi Joelle King - in the middle - won two gold medals at the World Doubles (Photo credit: squash999.com)

September squash hotspots

--- The new squash season is starting this week for the top players, with the J.P. Morgan China Squash Open, held in one of the most breathtaking locations of the PSA World Tour. (see picture below) For the first time, the prize money is the same in both draws ($100,000) and the women have responded: 6 of the 7 best players in the world will be featuring in Shanghai, including world number 1 and reigning world squash champion Nour El Sherbini. While the top 4 male players (Grégory Gaultier, Karim Abdel Gawad, Mohamed El Shorbagy and Nick Matthew) will be launching their 2017-2018 campaign later in September at the NetSuite Open in San Francico, the men's draw will still be strong in China, with the likes of Ali Farag, Ramy Ashour and 7 other top 20 players. The spotlight will also be on Nantes at the beginning of the month, after the organizers collected countless praises for their two first events. Local hero Grégoire Marche, winner in 2015 and 2016 and seeded number 1, will be looking to continue his unbeaten run.

The China Open is held on the roof of the Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai (Photo credit: shanghai.peninsula.com)

--- There will also be two ESF major events in September: the European Masters, which will gather over 500 players in Warsaw from tomorrow to Saturday, and the European Club Championship in mid-September. Paderborn will be hoping to retain their title at home in the men's draw. Led by Egypt's Nour El Tayeb, they can even dream of a first ever title in the women's.