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WILLSTROP: So cruel to lose out on a tie break
The sometimes cruel nature of sport hit me harder than ever last Monday at the British Open Championships in Liverpool – the most prestigious tournament on the calendar – when I lost to David Palmer on a tie break in the deciding game of the final.
It was his fourth British Open title, confirming him as a great of the modern game. For me it marked the ultimate disappointment, losing cruelly as his winning final point came from a shot off the frame of his racket.
It left me immensely saddened as from a young child I have watched the British Open and dreamed of winning it.
I was not helped by a dubious refereeing decision on match-ball which is impossible not to mention when talking about the match – whether it looks like sour grapes or not!
The pressure is intense for the referees and it is only human nature to make errors. In the heat of the moment refereeing must be incredibly difficult.
You can't dwell on this because sport involves crucial refereeing decisions and these must be accepted. There is nothing you can do.
The spectacle itself and the quality of the squash, i felt, was high – as it should be in the final of the biggest tournament in the world – and in time it will prove an experience to be proud of.
Sleep on Monday was impossible, as the mind incessantly feels the need to replay the final points over and over again. This, coupled with the empty feeling of anti-climax, made for a tough few days.
However, turning the TV on and seeing people lose their lives in an earthquake gives a squash player certain perspective.
The last tournament of this year is in London where the top eight-ranking points earners of last year play-off to be Super Series Champion.
It is staged at the stylish Broadgate Arena beside Liverpool Street.
to lead into that we had two exhibition evenings during the week, one in Exeter and the other in Lee-on-Solent. They were both fantastic nights and people who think squash is dying couldn't be more wrong.
The body is hanging on now. Much of the training done last summer has worn away, although fitness remains because of the frequency and hardness of the matches.
But the body is experiencing niggles because it loses strength.
One more week to go and then it will be time to sit in fields, maybe play a game of tennis and add a few kilos to the waist before the heavy summer training.
Just for a few weeks, there will be things that don't involve being surrounded by four walls.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
