Nick Matthew
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Matthew is a professional squash
player from England
who won the British Open
in 2006 and 2009 and is the reigning World Champion. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in June 2010. His home squash club is Hallamshire Tennis and Squash club in Sheffield which has named a squash court 'The Nick Matthew Showcourt'.
In 2006, Matthew became the first home-grown English player to win the British Open men's title since 1939. In the final, against Thierry Lincou
of France
, he came back from 0–4 down in the fifth game to win 11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6. In 2007, Matthew won the US Open
title, beating James Willstrop
in the final 11–7, 11–4, 11–7.
Matthew won the British National Championship
title in 2006 and 2009. In 2006, Matthew played Lee Beachill
in a tight final, which he won 11–9, 6–11, 11–9, 10–12, 12–10. In 2009, he defeated Adrian Grant
in the final 11–4, 11–3, 11–9. Matthew was a member of the England team which won the World Team Squash Championships
in 2005 and 2007.
2009 saw Matthew soar up in rankings to world No. 4 in December. His best achievement of the year is by winning the Qatar Classic
Open title in November. In the Saudi International Open, Matthew's fine run was halted by Ramy Ashour
who beat him in the final that decided the next world No. 1. Matthew lost in 110 minutes in a gruelling 5 set match.
In the singles final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
in Delhi
, Matthew defeated compatriot James Willstrop
11–6, 11–7, 11–7 in 66 minutes to win the gold medal.
Nick Matthew became the first Englishman ever to win the World Open Squash Men's Title in December 2010.
Matthew won the PSA 2010 World Open, defeating James Willstrop
of England in the final by 3 games to 1 in 74 minutes at The Sunset Beach Resort in Saudi Arabia on Friday 10th December 2010.
Matthew won the PSA 2011 World Open, defeating Gregory Gaultier
of France in the final by 3 games to 1 in 92 minutes at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Sunday 6th November 2011.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
who won the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
in 2006 and 2009 and is the reigning World Champion. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in June 2010. His home squash club is Hallamshire Tennis and Squash club in Sheffield which has named a squash court 'The Nick Matthew Showcourt'.
Career overview
Matthew, who attended High Storrs School, first came to the squash world's attention as an outstanding junior player. He was the 1999 British Junior Open under-19 champion, a semi-finalist at the 1998 World Junior Championships, and a member of the England team which won the 1998 world junior team title. He made his first appearance on the professional tour in 1998.In 2006, Matthew became the first home-grown English player to win the British Open men's title since 1939. In the final, against Thierry Lincou
Thierry Lincou
Thierry Lincou is a professional squash player from France. He reached the World No. 1 ranking in January 2004...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he came back from 0–4 down in the fifth game to win 11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6. In 2007, Matthew won the US Open
United States Open (squash)
The United States Open squash championships is an annual squash tournament sponsored by U.S. Squash. The championship was inaugurated in 1954 as an opportunity for professionals and amateurs to compete against each other...
title, beating James Willstrop
James Willstrop
James Willstrop is a professional squash player from England.-Biography:Willstrop is recognised as a young squash talent with a big future ahead of him...
in the final 11–7, 11–4, 11–7.
Matthew won the British National Championship
British National Squash Championships
The British National Squash Championships are the national squash championships for players from the United Kingdom & Ireland. They are held annually in early February and have been held at the National Squash Centre at Sportscity in Manchester since 2003....
title in 2006 and 2009. In 2006, Matthew played Lee Beachill
Lee Beachill
Lee Beachill is a former World No. 1 squash player from England.Beachill reached the World No. 1 ranking in October 2004. He also finished runner-up at the World Open that year....
in a tight final, which he won 11–9, 6–11, 11–9, 10–12, 12–10. In 2009, he defeated Adrian Grant
Adrian Grant
Adrian Grant, is a professional squash player from England. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 10 in June 2009....
in the final 11–4, 11–3, 11–9. Matthew was a member of the England team which won the World Team Squash Championships
World Team Squash Championships
The World Team Squash Championships are an international squash competition played between teams representing different nations. Countries enter teams of three or four players to represent them in the championships. In each round of the competition, teams face each other in a best-of-three singles...
in 2005 and 2007.
2009 saw Matthew soar up in rankings to world No. 4 in December. His best achievement of the year is by winning the Qatar Classic
Qatar Classic
The Qatar Classic is an annual international squash tournament that takes place in Doha, Qatar in October. The event was re-established in 2001. The tournament features both men and women, the men's event is part of the PSA World Series and the women's event is part of the WISPA World...
Open title in November. In the Saudi International Open, Matthew's fine run was halted by Ramy Ashour
Ramy Ashour
Ramy Mohamed Ashour is a professional squash player from Egypt. He reached world No. 1 in January, 2010, after beating Nick Matthew in the final of the 2009 Saudi International Squash Tournament. At 22 he became the youngest player to achieve world No. 1 since the Khan era, having previously been...
who beat him in the final that decided the next world No. 1. Matthew lost in 110 minutes in a gruelling 5 set match.
In the singles final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Squash at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Squash at the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Siri Fort Sports Complex from 4 to 13 October 2010. The training venue for the participants was Siri Fort Sports Complex - 3. Every CGA has been allowed to send a maximum of 8 players, 4 male and 4 female, for this event.-Medals...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Matthew defeated compatriot James Willstrop
James Willstrop
James Willstrop is a professional squash player from England.-Biography:Willstrop is recognised as a young squash talent with a big future ahead of him...
11–6, 11–7, 11–7 in 66 minutes to win the gold medal.
Nick Matthew became the first Englishman ever to win the World Open Squash Men's Title in December 2010.
Matthew won the PSA 2010 World Open, defeating James Willstrop
James Willstrop
James Willstrop is a professional squash player from England.-Biography:Willstrop is recognised as a young squash talent with a big future ahead of him...
of England in the final by 3 games to 1 in 74 minutes at The Sunset Beach Resort in Saudi Arabia on Friday 10th December 2010.
Matthew won the PSA 2011 World Open, defeating Gregory Gaultier
Gregory Gaultier
Grégory Gaultier is a professional squash player from France. He won the British Open in 2007, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2006 and 2007....
of France in the final by 3 games to 1 in 92 minutes at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Sunday 6th November 2011.
Finals: 2 (2 titles, 0 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 2006 | Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
 Thierry LincouThierry Lincou Thierry Lincou is a professional squash player from France. He reached the World No. 1 ranking in January 2004... |
11–8, 5–11, 11–4, 9–11, 11–6 |
| Winner | 2009 | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
 James WillstropJames Willstrop James Willstrop is a professional squash player from England.-Biography:Willstrop is recognised as a young squash talent with a big future ahead of him... |
8–11, 11–8, 7–11, 11–3, 12–10 |
Finals: 2 (2 titles, 0 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 2010 | Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World... |
James Willstrop James Willstrop James Willstrop is a professional squash player from England.-Biography:Willstrop is recognised as a young squash talent with a big future ahead of him... |
7–11, 11–6, 11–2, 11–3 |
| Winner | 2011 | Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
Grégory Gaultier Gregory Gaultier Grégory Gaultier is a professional squash player from France. He won the British Open in 2007, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2006 and 2007.... |
6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 |