Pyramid Open, NY and Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas

Sorry for the lack of blogging, crazy few weeks! But seeing as Fram is telling the world to read my blog, I should update it!!

A couple of months since my last WSA tournament meant I was raring to go. The journey to New York was uneventful and I was completely oblivious to the incoming Hurricane Sandy. The tournament was in Tuckahoe, a town on the North side of NY where the local pizza shop owners could well be extras from the Godfather. In a city famous for it's pizza, it was particularly difficult to avoid the temptation until after my matches had all finished! The Pyramid club is quite a new club with 4 glass backs, a nice gym and plenty of friendly members (always a plus!). The owner is Egyptian, hence the Pyramid link.

I was seeded 7th so knew I would have to play well to progress anywhere in the tournament.
First up was the tournament organiser and wild card, Katja Amir. She did a good job of not letting me get into any rhythm but I managed to get through in a reasonably comfortable 3 games.

Next up was 3rd seeded fellow Englishwoman, Lauren Briggs. The only time we played before, was 18 months ago and Lauren came out on top 3-1. I started well and took the first game but Lauren fought back to take the second. I managed to take the third 11-3 and despite a strong come back from 6-10 down, back to 9-10 I managed to close out the match in 4.
I was pleased to get off in 4 in the end as the Semi Final was waiting only 6 hours later that same day.

In the Semi Final I took on top seeded Dane, Line Hansen. Having never played her before, I wasn't sure quite what to expect. Again I made a good start to the match and played well to get a 2 game lead. Line came out firing in the 3rd and reeled off the winners. In the 4th I managed to keep my nose ahead the whole way and take the game 11-7 and the match 3-1.

Kanzy El Dafrawy, seeded 2, from Egypt was waiting for me in the final. She had only dropped 1 game so far in the tournament so I knew it would be tough but I was up for the challenge!
This time I didn't get a good start and was 6-1 down before I knew what was happening. I started to get more into the match but the game was too big to make up and Kanzy won the first game 11-7.
A quick change of tactics and I edged the 2nd game to 8. The start of the 3rd was too similar to the 1st for my liking, going 7-1 down this time. I refocussed and as I started to come back, my confidence grew and with some good play I managed to squeak it 11-9 to take a 2-1 lead. This proved crucial as I controlled the 4th from the start, taking a 10-2 lead before closing out the match 11-4 to take my 3rd WSA title and biggest to date.

The win came just in time to count for the November rankings and helped push me to a career high ranking of 35!

TBC with the Hurricane Sandy Chronicles and Mexican Long Weekend

Next Tournament: World Open
Venue: Cayman Islands
Seeded: - 
Date/Time: 13/12/2012
Opponent: TBD

Current World Ranking: 35

Prosquash Mexico Open $15k

After a few hours delayed at Newark due to a computer failure, I arrived in Mexico City. I was a bit apprehensive as I have never played or trained at altitude before. The first practise session was definitely a shock to the system, 7000 feet is pretty lofty! After a couple of days I started to get used to it but you still struggle to find your breath even after short rallies.

My first match was against Mexican wildcard Karla Urrutia. Having never seen her play before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Small and quick was what I was told. They weren't wrong and I got dragged in to playing at 300 miles per hour, which is definitely not the thing to do when you aren't fully adapted to the altitude. I won through in a scrappy 3-0 and knew I would really have to up my game the following day.

In the quarter finals I played Samantha Teran; number 1 seed, Mexican number 1, world number 14 (oh and it's the Prosquash SAMANTHA TERAN squash club!). I knew the hard work over the summer meant I was in a physical state to compete but I needed to be extremely disciplined in chosing when to attack and when to defend if I was to really push her. From the start there was some very long drawn out rallies but I was moving the ball round well and defending when necessary. I reached game point in the first but she upped the pace to take the next 3 points and the all important first game.
I knew I had to keep varying the pace and not let her get into any rythym. I did the well in the second and third games, taking them by comfortable scorelines in the end. There was still some very long rallies and I was starting to tire.
Into the 4th though, I was pushing for the finishing post. 8-3. 10-6 with some well constructed rallies. Here unfortunately is where my brain decided to wander and although I had several guilt edge chances to put the ball away, I couldn't quite put it out of her reach and eventually clipped tins and before I knew it it was back to 10-10. You can't let someone that experienced back into the match like that as their confidence thrives off it and it's an uphill battle to regain control. After weirily losing the 4th on extra points, I started the 5th strongly once again taking a 5-2 lead. However from this point her experience at the top level showed and she got everything back and I just couldn't find a way to win enough rallies. Sam eventually won the 5th 11-7 to a rupture of applause from the Mexican crowd.

So close yet no cigar! I am extremely proud of myself for pushing to the extent I did, there is no way I could have played a 74 minute match of this intensity, at altitude, even a few months ago. Even now as I write this the next day I am both physically and mentally drained. I put absolutely everything I could into the match yesterday and although I didn't win, it gives me great confidence for the future that I can challenge and eventually go on to hopefully beat any of the top players.
I will go home with my head held high and use the disappointment of losing to further spur me on in my training for the the coming weeks and months.

Thanks for all the support from back home, it makes more of a difference than you can realise!

You can see more photos on the official website http://www.squashmexicanopen2012.com/

Life Update

So I haven't blogged for a while and since the new season in bearing down on us, I think it's about time I returned to the keyboard.

I shall endeavour to start where I left off; it was almost the end of the season and I just had one remaining tournament. Said tournament was in Ille-Rousse, Corsica. I went into the tournament as number 2 seed, but the highest ranked player due to points collected at the British Open and Chennai Open in May. This was the first time I have gone into a WSA tournament with this pressure. Historically, I have dealt with pressure of being a favourite well and knew I was getting fitter and stronger as each week of training went by. Importantly for me, this was the first tournament since before Christmas where I was able to prepare exactly how I wanted as the scar tissue from my injury had finally broken down and playing was pain free.

The first thing to say about Corsica is WOW! it is such a beautiful, picturesque island Secondly, how friendly all the people are and despite the language barrier (my french being decidely worse than their English on the whole), Jean-Louis and everyone were always trying to help in any way they could. I was staying with fellow English player Zeph and we were given a lovely apartment for the whole week (2 flights per week to/from the UK meant we HAD to stay a whole week). From the moment the plane hit the tarmac I really enjoyed the laid back attitude and ever present 'Island time'. At time I had to remind myself I was at a tournament and not on a chill out holiday!

Oh yes, the tournament........
The first couple of rounds I was reasonably comfortable, getting a feel for the court and how my body was feeling. Next up was the semi final where I was up against French woman, Maud Duplomb. Not ranked too far below me and having seen her play before, I knew I was going to have to concentrate from the start and take my chances well. Fortunately I was able to gain control of the middle early on and push home the advantage, never really allowing her into the match. Exactly what the doctor ordered!
After a few days staying where the sun actually shines, it was safe to say my pale skin had shifted to a bright pink! Thankfully it wasn't too bad and didn't effect me in the final.
My opponent in the final was another French woman. Laura Pomportes had upset the top seed earlier in the tournament, on the way to her first tour final. Laura started the better and I had to come from behind and save a game ball to take the first game 13-11. I relaxed a bit more in the second but still had to work hard to take the game for a 2-0 lead. Early on in the 3rd, I stopped as the crowd wrongly thought the rally was over. To my dismay, or possible misunderstanding on the referee's behalf, I didn't get a let and I unfortunately allowed it to get to me and my head went awol along with the 3rd game. Fortunately I managed to regroup and made a strong start to the 4th before Laura suffered a bad slip. Her movement was impaired from there on but as everyone knows, sometimes there's nothing worse an injured opponent who suddenly has nothing to lose. I managed to press home my advantage to take the match and my second WSA title. Thankfully Laura wasn't hurt too badly.
After everyone made such an effort to make us welcome all week, I thought it was only fair for me to make the extra bit of effort which meant sacrificing my dignity and making my speech in French. Hopefully I'm still welcome back next year!

Between then and now I have been training hard, attempting to improve my fitness and lean up! This included a variety of training methods and numerous trips up to the National Squash Centre in Manchester to work with the National Coaches and the rest of the England squad.
I have some high targets for myself over the next season and hopefully with a good summer training behind me, reaching them is a real possibility.
I am currently in Mexico for my first tournament of the season, the $15k Prosquash Mexico Open. I am seeded 5th and my first match is tomorrow against a Mexican wildcard. Follow the tournament on the official tournament website http://squashmexicanopen2012.com/

We stayed at the Mexican Sport Institute last night where many of their Olympians and other top athletes train. We were on lockdown at 10pm, noone in or out! It did make Lilleshall seem like a stately home at times. Today we have moved to the tournament hotel which is really nice; the bed is so comfortable it's making me ask myself if 5pm is an acceptable bed time? Tonight they are hosting a welcome dinner at the club which I am really looking forward to. Everyone has been really welcoming and the club is amazing, let the matches begin!!

Chennai Open - Better late than never!

The title of my blog is two fold - 1) I've been very slow to write it 2) The story of my journey to Chennai

Only after arriving at Birmingham Airport at some ungodly hour of the morning, checking in and waiting for 45 minutes were we informed that there was 'fog' at Brussels and the flight would be delayed (but by how long was anybody's guess). An hour after the scheduled departure, the airline were forced to admit I had now missed my connection on to Chennai. As that was the one flight of the day, we had to start looking at other options. To cut a long story short, the airline paid for a taxi from Birmingham to Heathrow and I was put on a direct flight to Chennai that was only to arrive 4 hours after my original one.

Having never been to India before, I knew little of what to expect. Even at 5am, as I left the airport, I was startled by the warmth. I made it to the hotel and got my head straight down for a few hours kip.

My first match was against top Australian junior Jessica Turnbull. The courts were hot and bouncy as expected but I used this to twist and turn my opponent well and never let her settle.

The matches after this were all to be played on the all glass court (including glass floor). In both the quarter final and the semi final, I struggled, trying to hit the ball too hard and getting frantic far too often. I managed to calm it down after the first game in the quarter final but struggled in large patches of the semi final, needing to come from 2-1 and 12-11 match ball down against top Indian junior Anaka Alankamony to get the 3-2 win and progress to the final.

In the final I played my best squash of the week but, after a good first game, found the tin just a bit too often and Joshna, playing in her home city, showed her experience, picking off any loose balls I put down the middle. I managed to fight from 8-10 down in the 4th back to 10-10 but Joshna slotted my next serve straight into the nick cross court to give her another match ball at 11-10. I managed to get on top of the rally but once again tried to force it and made the error, giving Joshna the game, match and Chennai Open title.

A good tournament for me to back up my qualification for the British Open the week previous. These 2 tournaments pushed me up 17 places, to 43, in the June World Rankings released yesterday. Very happy to make my debut in the top 50 and just one more tournament in Corsica in a couple of weeks, before a hard block of summer training. This will hopefully give me a good platform to attack the top 30 next season!



Last Tournament: Chennai Open
Venue: Indian Squash Centre, Chennai
Opponent and Score: R1: Jessica Turnbull 3-0 QF: Victoria Bell 3-1 SF: Anaka Alankamony 3-2 F: Joshna Chinappa 1-3


Next Tournament: Corsica Open
Venue: Corsica
Seeded: 3
Date/Time: 19th June
Opponent: Qualifier

Current World Ranking: 43

British Open - Round 1

Yesterday was my birthday and what better day to play your first WSA World Series match against a top 10 player. I was up against Natalie Grinham and despite her legendary status in the game I have never had the pleasure of watching her play before. I was reliably informed she was quick and liked to drop, this was spot on. I knew she hadn't seen me play before either so it would be an interesting match to say the least. I think we may win the award for biggest height difference as a start. (She is on her tip toes and I am crouched slightly!!)

It was a bit odd going back to the hot bouncy glass back after the much more dead glass court from Monday night. This more than showed as I made a shaky start, not being able to finish rallies from positions I was the day before. After going down about 7-2 in the first game I managed to get my head round the fact the ball was going to keep coming back and be more patient! In the end she shaded the first game 11-9.

In the second she showed why she has been as high as 2 in the world with some fantastic pick ups and deft drops to the front, the game was hers 11-5. I was always a couple of points behind in then 3rd and although I fought well, I let myself down going short at the wrong times. She held the advantage to take the game 11-7 and the match 3-0. It was a great experience and I will definitely take a lot away from the match.

I now have just a few days to prepare before I fly to India for the $10k Chennnai Open which starts next Wednesday where I am seeded 3.


Last Tournament: British Open
Venue: St George's Hill, Surrey
Opponent:  Natalie Grinham
Score: 9-11 5-11 7-11

Next Tournament: Chennai Open
Venue: National Squash Centre, Chennai
Seeded: 3
Date/Time: Wednesday 23rd May
Opponent: Jessica Turnbull (Aus)

Current World Ranking: 60

British Open - Qualifying finals

This evening I was up against Aisling Blake, ranked 24.

I ensured I didn't make the same mistake as yesterday and got off to a flying start, going 10-4 up in the first game before taking it 11-5. I built up a 6-3 lead in the 2nd but she produced some good play to get back in the game and eventually win it 11-8.
I pushed forward again and found my length which paid off as I was able to attack with a good margins. I managed to get the game 11-6 and the 4th was a similar story as a raced out to a 4-0 lead and drove home the advantage (no pun intended) winning the game 11-5 and the match 3-1.
Overall I played really well and I'm pleased to get an important win against a player ranked significantly higher than me. It's great to qualify for a world series event and my prize is a match tomorrow against Natalie Grinham; a pretty awesome birthday present for tomorrow!! So 6pm tomorrow time to do it all over again!

British Open - Qualifying Round 1

Yesterday was the first round of qualifying here in Surrey for the prestigious British Open. The main draw is 32 players so 23 were in by ranking, 1 wildcard and 32 more of us to fight it out for the remaining 8 places in qualifying. I knew to qualify I would have to beat 2 playes ranked significantly above me. I drew Malaysian Siti Munirah Jusoh to play in the first round, ranked 20 spots higher than me at 40.

The match didn't start to plan, I was swiping at shots, slow on to the ball and therefore attacking from bad positions which quite often resulted in me hitting the tin! I lost the first game about 11-7 but went back on in the second having blocked all the nerves out and concentrating on playing my game. I flew to a 9-0 lead with solid play, volleying much more and commanding the T. I took the 2nd 11-2 to make the match tied at 1-1. The third was always going to be a crucial game and although I couldn't keep my concentration for periods of the games I managed to stay in front and get the third game 11-7. I was in control again throughout the 4th and even with a couple of errs in concentration I won it comfortably 11-3 and the match 3-1.

I was happy to win but know I can't afford such a slow start today against an even higher ranked opponent in Aisling Blake, Irish number 2 and world number 24. I know it will be tough but I'm going to give it my best and aim for a place in the first round of the 'Wimbledon of Squash' tomorrow, which also happens to be my birthday!

My match is at 7pm tonight so I'm looking forward to watching some of the other matches first.

Irish Open Qualifying Finals

In the qualifying finals yesterday I had the unfortunate luck of coming up against Alison Waters, former world number 4 on the comeback trail after injury.

I knew it was going to be very tough and was prepared to get stuck in and expect some long rallies from the start.
I played well in the first game and was 'in' most of the rallies but she was keeping me away from the T and I couldn't get in front and attack as I like to do! I started the 2nd much better, spending much more time controlling the T and then being able to use my hold from the front of the court. I got to 6-5 but after this her experience really shone through as she didn't give me anything to attack, keeping me pinned way in the back and punishing anything I put back short, especially on the backhand. She continued this ruthless play throughout the 3rd and I didn't help myself with a few unforced errors snatching at simple shots.

There is no doubt that Alison is back playing to the top 5 standard she was before her injury and I feel pleased that I competed so well in the 2nd game. I can also take away some things to work on before my next tournament which is the British Open in just over 2 weeks time, where I will be attempting to qualify also. 

I am looking forward to watching some of the maindraw matches before flying home tomorrow and heading to Sheffield for the weekend to represent Warwickshire in the Intercounty finals, where we are reigning champions!

Irish Open Qualifying

After a bright and early start I arrived in Dublin this morning. Managing to somehow avoid the rain, I made it to the club with a few hours to spare.

I was drawn against Milou van der Heijden from the Netherlands. We are very similar in age but didn't actually play too many times on the European junior circuit, with the last time being at least 4 years ago. Currently ranked 59 to my 65, there wasn't much between us on paper.

After a slow tempo start I picked the pace up and from 2-4 down, took the next 9 points and give me first blood. In the second she began to play better and I lacked patience at times. I was relieved to get the game 14-12 and an all important 2-0 lead. This proved pivotal as I once again took the initiative in the 3rd game, flying to a quick 5-0 lead which she was unable to claw back. I won the 3rd 11-5. A relief to get through a potentially tricky match 3-0 and conserve energy for the qualifying finals tomorrow.

In the qualifying finals tomorrow I face Alison Waters at 2pm. She is on red hot form, winning her last 2 tournaments after a long injury lay off but as always I will give it my best and play the best squash I can.

On a side note we found these ridiculous chocolate bars at the local petrol station (see picture)

British Under 23 Championships

This weekend was the British Under 23 Championships at Hunts County Squash Club near Huntingdon, Cambs. I went into the tournament as number 1 seed and hoping to go one better than last years' runner up spot!

I played a couple of younger girls in the first 2 rounds and although they both put up a fight, I won through reasonably comfortably 3-0 in less than 20 minutes. The semi final was a similar story with some better rallies but unfortunately (for my opponent) she was hitting a lot of errors. So I was through to the final against Carrie Ramsey of Yorkshire, whom I defeated 3-1 last year at the semi final stage. I came out firing and made a great start, taking the first game 11-3. After this Carrie was playing better and I had both let off the pace a bit and let errors creep into my game. This made for a close few games with no more than 2 points in any of the rest. However, I managed to take 2 of the next 3 to give me the match 3 games to 1 and a second British Title to add to my Under 19 one from way back in 2009! Report on the finals can be read here.

I felt it was a good tournament considering it was just 3 months since my horrible injury and it definitely was good to get back to winning ways! I am only (ha!) 21 so I will be back to defend my title again next year.
Thanks to the club for hosting a great tournament and everyone involved in the organisation.

I am off to Dublin next week to try and qualify for the Irish Open, which is looking especially strong this year with Laura Massaro (WR 3) and Madeline Perry (WR4) heading the seedings for the main draw. The Fitzwilliam Club is a good venue and Dublin a fantastic city so I can't wait to get over there and play now.

Last Tournament: British U23 
Venue: Hunts County Squash Club, Cambs
Opponent: Carrie Ramsey
Score: 3-1 11/3 11/9 10/12 11/9 (42m)

Current Tournament: -
Venue: -
Next Opponent: -

Next Tournament: Irish Open $25k
Venue: Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin

Seeded: -

Date/Time: 23/04/2012
Opponent: tbd

Current World Ranking: 65

April Goings On

I have a few more days at home this week before a hectic rest of April. Friday sees the start of the British Under 23 Championships being held, once again, at Hunts County Squash Club in the idyllic Hemingford Grey, Cambridgshire. After reaching the final last year, I am heading the seedings this time. My first match is at 5pm on Friday against Georgie Ingham from Surrey. The last time we played, I was 14 and she was 9 (I think??). A preview of the event can be found here.

I didn't have much time to get over the jetlag last week before my team, Kenilworth, faced a visiting challenge from the multi-time European champions, Pontefract, in the National Clubs Championships. We knew they were going to bring a strong team and it was always an uphill battle. By the time I went on, the rest of my team had all gone down fighting but unable to get a single game off quality opponents.

This left me with the job of retrieving some pride from the dead rubber! All the more daunting when I knew I was up against Vanessa Atkinson, former world number 1 and world champion as well as winner of our previous 4 encounters; the most recent being a 3-1 win on her way to the Nottingham WISPA title last August.
Vanessa started the better, taking the first game 11-5 and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second, before I started to get her off the 'T' a bit more and keep the ball straighter, to stop those damn drop volleys!! I snuck the second 11-9 to make it 1-1. She dominated the middle of the 3rd game and although I closed the gap, I could never quite catch up, eventually catching the tin to give the game and 2-1 lead to Vanessa, 11-7. I came out firing in the 4th and flew to a 5-0 lead. This proved enough as I took the game 11-5. The 5th was close with never more than a few points in it. Vanessa pulled away from 8-8 to get 2 match points but a nicked cross court and a volley boast later I had it back to 10-10. The rallies that followed were tense, both wanting to go for it but determined not to make the mistake. I closed the game out on my third match point, 14-12, to take the match after 55 minutes and retain some pride to Kenilworth. A great match for the Kenilworth faithful to watch, even a few tennis members ventured past their normal boundaries to never before seen territory of the squash balcony.
As we beat Nottingham in out other match in the competition we have to wait and see if we progress to the National finals weekend in June.

Plans for a new show court to be constructed at Kenilworth were passed at the AGM 2 weeks ago, so in the not to distant future matches like this can be showcased more effectively and the new court could possibly even entertain a PSL team in the future.


Last Tournament: National Clubs Championships
Venue: Kenilworth Squash Club
Opponent: Vanessa Atkinson
Score: 3-2 (5-11 11-9 7-11 11-5 14-12) 55 minutes

Current Tournament: -
Venue: -
Next Opponent: -

Next Tournament: British Under 23 Championships
Venue: Hunts County Squash Club, Hemingford Grey
Seeded: 1
Date/Time: 5pm 13/04/12
Opponent: Georgie Ingham

Current World Ranking: 65

Granite Club Open

This week I have been in Toronto playing the 11k$ event at the amazing Granite Club. As well as having 4 traditional squash courts, there are 2 hardball doubles courts, a singles court, an ice rink, curling, 2 swimming pools, numerous tennis courts and a bowling alley.

I got a bye in the first round of Qualifying and then played Canadian Gen Lessard in the 2nd round. I started well and took the first game preety easily 11-3. In the second I continued to play well but caught the tin far too often. I managed to take the game however and then cut out some of the errors to take the third also. The final score was 11-3 16-14 11-7.

I was drawn to play number 1 seed Latasha Khan in the first round of the main draw. We played in Washington before Christmas and I won 3-2, so I knew she would be wanting to avenge that defeat. After a slow start, going down 9-4, in the first game I began to play more intelligently. I managed to get it back to 9-9, only to lose the game 11-9 after an error and a debatable no let call.

The second was a different story, it was even until about 7-7 and then she pulled away to 10-7. I got it back to 10-10 and eventually lost the game 14-12 through a combination of bad luck, good play from Latasha and another debatable no let at 13-12.

The third game was neck and neck all the way up until 8-6, 8-7, 9-7, 10-7, 10-8. Latasha closed out the match with a great straight kill into the nick. It's always frustrating to lose such a close match, especially 3-0, but it was a huge improvement on my play last week and some of the things I have been working on in training were really showing through which is really encouraging.

I head home on Thursday and will be getting some good training in before my next few events, in April. I have the British Under 23 championships followed by the Irish Open, another Silver event, and straight into the Intercounty championships where we (Warwickshire) are defending champions.

Atwater Qualifying: Round 2

In the qualifying finals I was up against Canadian number 1 Miranda Ranieri. I started well but as she began to read my play a bit more, I began to rush my shots and my lead slipped away in the first game and after some silly errors, I lost the first 11-7. She came out strong in the second and I was lacking any patience whatsoever. After slumping to a 6-1 deficit, I began to play more of my own game. Unfortunately the hole was too deep to get out of and again a few silly errors towards the end of the game meant she took it 11-8 and a 2-0 lead in games. I battled in the 3rd but had lost confidence in my short game at this point which made it difficult to finish rallies. The pattern repeated and after a couple of errors at the end of the game, she took it 11-8 and the match 3-0.

It wasn't how I hoped to play but will take heart from continued persistence, when previously I may have continued the impatience right through the match.

I am now getting in some training before heading to Toronto on Saturday morning.

Song of the day: Anything sung by Siyoli

Atwater Cup: Qualifying Round 1

Yesterday I had my first match against Canadian junior Hollie Naughton. She hits the ball nicely, so I knew I had to get in front from the start and dictate the play. After a shakey first few points I settled into the match and dominated most of the rallies whilst still playing some shots to get a feel for the court. I won comfortably in 3 but there were a few hard fought rallies, so it was a perfect opening test to start off my tournament.

Today I play Miranda Ranieri, another Canadian. Ranked at 44 in the world she will be a tougher opponent but hopefully I can play well and try to qualify for the main draw in my first WSA Silver event.

On a side note. The suburbs of Montreal are mostly on the side of a hill, with our billet's house being about half way up, and yesterday we took a different walking route back and ended up walking up the steepest hill in Montreal. Even just walking up it, our calves were burning by the time we got to the top!
It is also unusually warm for the time of year, with temperatures reportedly heading up towards 20°!

Song of the day: Ed Sheeran - Drunk (mainly because Tesni keeps signing it and it's now stuck in my head!)

The Journey

So my journey started nice and early at Heathrow; I was there a couple of hours early but I can cope with that. The first leg was to JFK airport in New York and that all went smoothly as can be expected, with ice cream being an unexpected, but definitely embraced, delight provided towards the end of the flight. When I got to JFK, I had a couple of before my connection left and didn't even need to change terminal so was able to saunter through passport control and getnmy luggage without rushing. And then came my bad luck, which as always came in three. First off they were experiencing a mechanical issue on the plane, so when they had fixed it we were now running 45 minutes late. Next when I went to board the plane, my phone was nowhere to be found. I looked in the last few places I had been sat but had to give in to the fact it was gone and board the plane. Bye bye 2 week old phone. By now, as you can imagine, I was not in the happiest state of mind. The connection flight was full as well, not one free seat. This would never usually bother me, but being my lucky day I wish there had been another seat I could have moved to. The guy I was seated next to was either a)afraid of flying b)ill c)both. Whatever the reason he suddenly began vomiting before the plane had even taken off, so suddenly that he was caught unawares, leaving no time to open a sick bag. After that, well let's just say it's a good job I don't have a strong gag reflex!

When I finally managed to leave Montreal airport it was getting on for 11pm. The organiser, Glenn Wilson, very kindly came and picked me up from the airport and brought me to the house of the billets I will be staying with until Saturday. They are really lovely and I am really looking forward to the week ahead and hopefully giving my ranking a kick start now I'm back from injury!

Song of the Day: Lana Del Ray - Video Games

Tournament Return

Rehab completed, I am now preparing for my next couple of tournaments which are in Canada starting next Sunday (18th). First up is the $25k Atwater Cup in Montreal, where I am 8th seed in Qualifying, before heading to Toronto the following week for the $10k Granite Club Open where I will also begin in Qualifying.

I am feeling really positive after some good training behind me and hopefully I can play well and gain some decent results on my trip.

Progress

I have been doing my rehab for a few weeks now and this week I am very glad to have been able to get back on court and start doing some drills!

An ultrasound scan earlier in the week confirmed that the tendon has healed nicely which is a relief. All the strengthening work I've been doing is paying off, so all going well I expect to make my competition return towards the end of March.

My rehab has involved some new variations of exercise that I've not done before; the majority of time spent aquajogging and on the trampette! These make me even more grateful for being able to do some on court work again now.

Eager to get back to match fitness and get my ranking going in the right direction again!


Song of the day: The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves)

Injury/Update

If you follow me on Twitter (@SJPerry15) then you will probably already know I am currently injured. A couple of weeks ago, I was at an England Academy Squad in Nottingham; doing a standard routine, I went to push off and felt a shooting pain in my left heel, accompanied by a loud 'pop'. I knew straight away I had done something bad so got to a sports doctor ASAP!

She confirmed my suspicions that I had torn my Plantar Fascia tendon in my foot (runs from your heel bone up into each of your toes) near the base of my heel. Since then, an MRI has shown that the tear is only partial, which is a relief, as it means I don't require surgery. I had to wear an Aircast boot for 10 days to keep as much strain off the tendon as possible so it could heal. (It's so pretty!!!)

Now I am almost a week into my rehabilitation work which focuses on strengthening the tendon to minimise the chance of a relapse when I start playing again. I am also swimming, aquajogging and cycling to keep up my fitness for when I return. 

As you may have gathered by now, this means I am missing my block of tournaments which was due to start in Edinburgh yesterday! I will also no longer be able to travel to Winnipeg next week or compete in the British Championships the following week which I am particularly gutted about as it is always one of my favourite tournaments. Despite this I am keeping positive and am optimistic that I will be able to resume some light court work in a couple of weeks time and build up from there!

Song of the Day:

Ashaway

I would like to welcome on board Ashaway to my sponsors. Ashaway are world renowned for their quality strings, so I am delighted that they will be supporting me for at least the next 12 months. I will be using the PowerNick 18 (red).

All levels of sponsorship and support and very important to me. For this reason I am extremely thankful for those who continue to support me and I am always looking for new sponsorship opportunities. Please email any enquiries here

New Rankings (and Merry Christmas)

Just a quick update. The January rankings were published today and I've moved up 18 places to 65 which is obviously really positive! Hopefully I can continue to rise throughout 2012 and get into some of the bigger tournaments.

I wish all my family, friends and followers a happy Christmas and I hope 2012 is everything you wish for and more.

SJ x


P.S. My next event is the Warwickshire County closed 14/15 Jan and my next WSA event is the Edinburgh Open 27-29 Jan