England's top squash players ready for PSA Dubai World Series Finals

Two of England’s best squash players of all time, former world champions and world number ones Laura Massaro and Nick Matthew arrived in Dubai ahead of the PSA Dubai World Series Finals which kicks off on Tuesday May 24 in Burj Park, Downtown Dubai.

Massaro, with 17 career titles to her name, won two World Series titles this season and finished the 2015-2016 World Series at the top of the PSA Road to Dubai Rankings, on equal points with new world champion and world number one Nour El Sherbini.

El Sherbini took over the world number one ranking position from Massaro after defeating her in the final of the Women’s World Championships in April.

Massaro, however, has retained her position as top seed for the tournament and goes into the event as one of the leading contenders for the title.

Massaro said on arrival in Dubai: “Yes, it was disappointing to lose the final (of the World Championships) but overall it was a really good week, and where my form’s been since January is really nice, it was nice to be back in a major final playing for a big title.

"So overall I was happy and since then I have been to the Europeans with England and won the European Teams which was a fantastic week. I’ve had a couple of good weeks of training with the mindset of a big push for this event, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m really excited to be here and have been building on the sharpness from the worlds so am ready to go.”

Nick Matthew, a three-time world champion and winner of 33 career titles, made the finals of two of the World Series events this year despite an injury plagued season.

Matthew, the tournament number three seed, said: “I’m feeling fit, I want to put the injuries behind me now and focus on the last tournament  of the season, and finish on a high. It’s great to be back here, it’s the first time I’ve been to Dubai for a major event, and it’s great to come to new venues and I’m very excited. It looks like it’s going to be a spectacular tournament so I can’t wait to get stuck into it.”

Play in the PSA Dubai World Series Finals will commence on Tuesday at 2.00pm, with eight best-of-three matches on each of the first three days, with every player playing once each day.

Tickets are still available for the first three days of competition and are on sale now through Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmasteruae.ae

Tickets start at AED25 per session for general entry and will also be available at the door.

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