By RJ Mitchell
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Sarah-Jane Perry says she will not buckle under the pressure of expectancy that will accompany her defence of the CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open.
The World No.6 claimed the biggest title of her career in December when she won the 2020 Black Ball title in a manner that gave a whole new meaning to the term ‘doing things the hard way’.
The 30-year-old survived a 74-minute five game semi-final with New Zealand’s Joelle King in which she saved a match ball before defeating Hania El Hammamy in a 75-minute final after overturning a two-game deficit.
Now, as she looks forward to opening her title defence with a first round encounter against either Egypt’s Mariam Metwally, Perry has revealed that she will repeating the ‘one match at a time’ approach that served her so well last time around as she manages the burden of being defending champion at a major PSA event for the first time.
Perry said: “I’m not going in expecting to win, I am going in with a similar mindset to last time which is to take it one match at a time and trying to get the best from my performance that day.
“I’ve always known I can compete with the top girls, but to be able to come through a whole tournament like that really backed that belief up that if I can get the consistency I can really challenge.
“Actually, in some of these matches [at the previous Black Ball Open] I don’t think I got close to playing the best I can. If anything, my main strength that week was finding a way to win and sometimes that is more important than the actual squash.
Perry (right) takes on Hania El Hammamy (left) during December's Black Ball Open final
“So hopefully I can bring that back to the table this week while also producing my best squash in the week ahead.
“In training it’s been about building on that performance and the excellent training block I had before and trying to keep improving my physicality. So we have continued to work on that, and I hope that will be in a good place.
“But it’s also been about trying to work on the mental side as well, no complaints whatsoever and trying to push on with a real positive attitude.”
Perry’s Black Ball win included three five-game encounters in her five matches and she is confident she is prepared for every eventuality once again: “I know what I must do to compete at these big events, and I am at a stage now that I make sure I follow through on that as I know how important it is. I am not naturally a planner but the further I’ve got into my career I know how much it helps me, so I guess now I am a planner.
“But it also bears testament to the work I have been putting in both on and off court now and I have expectation levels of myself in that respect and it is about coming up to these expectations.
“If you can get the early rounds done in three games then fantastic and the best way to do that is not to be complacent. It is not where we were 10 or more years ago and the first rounds were at times one-sided. Now you must be on your game in every round.”
Perry built on that success by winning the AJ Bell English Squash Championships in in Manchester last month and she admits it provided vital game time while also giving her a chance to test out the mettle of the next generation of English squash talent coming through.
“Big kudos to England Squash for being really proactive and getting us the event,” Perry said.
Perry (right) takes on Gina Kennedy (left) during the final of the AJ Bell England Squash Championships
“It was just very interesting as most of the girls I drew I have never played before. Obviously, I have played Julianne ([Courtice] a number of times and Lucy Beecroft, but I hadn’t played Anna Kimberley before and hadn’t played Gina Kennedy either.
“So it was very interesting going into these matches against up-and-coming players who had nothing to lose. It is a similar situation in the big events on tour, these players have just nothing to lose, and it is a shot to nothing and they can really go for it.
“I was very pleased, particularly with my performance in the final. Gina is a fantastic talent and a young player looking to break onto the tour, so I was really pleased to put down a marker and say: ‘I know you are quicker than me but I’m going to control the match today’. Thankfully, I managed to do that.
“Gina had some really good wins against these other girls, and she is dangerous, and I have no doubt she will storm up the rankings soon, but you’ve got to keep the youngsters at bay, and I was happy with how I used my experience in that respect.
“Really, I took my inspiration from James Willstrop, whom I’ve seen handout a number of these performances over the years to younger, quicker and more agile players and James has just controlled them with his racket.
“I do think it will also have been good for Gina in the long run but for me it was invaluable matchplay and conditions.”
Perry has also admitted that the prospect of playing the PSA World Championships and British Open at the end of the season have really excited her.
“In terms of the World Champs, I love playing in Chicago. It’s so important and such fantastic news that the flagship event for the PSA will go ahead. Mark Walter has put so much into squash and is continuing to do so, it is a shining beacon for the players to look forward to and it will be really interesting to see Chicago in the summer rather than the winter.
“I do have some really good memories of Chicago having had a really good run to the semis [at the Windy City Open] a couple of times in the last few years. I also made the last 16 on my return from my elbow injury, which was my first tournament back the last occasion the Worlds were there.
Sarah-Jane Perry (right) takes on Laura Massaro (left) during the 2017 Allam British Open
“So for me Chicago has a special place in my memories, and it is just a great place to play. To have the Worlds there this year is just fantastic and hopefully I will be in good form when we get there.”
A finalist in the 2017 British Open, Perry admits a sense of unfinished business has heightened her anticipation for another crack at her home major event: “It’s incredible to see the British Open back in June. There’s nothing like playing in front of a home crowd, so I’m keeping everything crossed that the ‘roadmap’ is able to be followed and we will have that atmosphere I love so much with the fans back.
“The tradition of the British coupled with my final loss a few years back just means I’m even more desperate to hold the trophy. I guess it’s a case of unfinished business as some might say.
“It’s been amazing to see the buzz from the squash fans in the UK at the prospect of watching live squash in person again and I have no doubt they will be treated to some epic battles.”
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Perry Heading Into Black Ball Open With Same Mindset As Last Time - Professional Squash Association - PSA World Tour
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