Squash: It’s on to Egypt after exciting week in London – Willstrop

Simon Rosner, German’s number one booked a place in a big final, losing out to Sheffield’s Nick Matthew.

Losing semi-finalists were London-based Peter Barker and Daryl Selby, and they gave the home crowd plenty to shout about during the week.

The PSA players have now moved swiftly on to El Gouna in Egypt. It’s a resort, just half an hour away from more well known Hurghada which caters to many holiday makers.

It’s just the right time of year to come here, the weather is hot but not oppressively so and the place is swarming with people in a very upbeat mode of relaxation.

Grounds for jealousy then from us squash players, sweating it out and enduring the pain whilst all around enjoy themselves, drinking cocktails and lying in the sun.

But on the other side of that coin it means that when we do get time to relax we can make the most of it. It’s certainly conducive to relaxation.

Some players have already been on one of the golf courses here, and after the recent harsh winter leg of the tour in the Unietd States and Europe it’s already clear to see one or two of the players are getting a little carried away with the weather; by the look of things yesterday a few had forgotten the sun cream.

The first round has been played over the last two days and we’re into the last sixteen today.

Matches will be split between the glass court at the marina and the concrete club court at the Moevenpick Hotel.