Aussies line up for shot at World Champs

Four Australians will be in action in Birmingham over the coming days as they take part in qualifying for the 2022-23 PSA World Championships.

Six places are still available in both the men’s and women’s draws for this year’s event in Chicago, with 84 players competing this week to earn their spot in the field.

Jessica Turnbull comes into the qualifying event as the fifth seed which gifts her a first round bye, meaning she is two wins away from a place at her first World Championships.

"It's always an advantage having one more day to get used to things before the matches start, but there's no easy matches," said Turnbull. "There's a lot riding on this event so the pressure is on, but being a top six seed is always helpful. 

The 27-year-old has been in solid form recently, making the semi-finals of the Calgary Women’s Squash Week then backing it up with victory at the PSA Satellite event in Moreton Bay the following week.

"Reaching the semi finals in Calgary was the best result of my career so far," said Turnbull. "I beat some much higher-ranked women and was really happy with my squash.

"Having a win at home is always nice, it's nice to be able to support a local event and be able to play the up-and-coming squashies."

Just two matches separate Turnbull and what would be one of the biggest moments of her career.

"It would be my first-ever platinum event," she said. "Being able to represent Australia at a major event like that would be amazing. 

"Plus the added reward of getting to play someone of a world class calibre. Always an opportunity to improve." 

Joining Turnbull in the women’s draw are Sarah Cardwell and Alex Haydon.

Haydon, 21, has also had some encouraging results recently, in particular a semi-final appearance at the Liverpool Cricket Club Open. In that tournament she accounted for Welsh player Ali Loke in the quarter-finals, and she will be hoping to repeat the result when the pair meet in the first round of qualifying.

A win would see Haydon take on third-seed Aira Azman (Malaysia) for a chance to progress to the third and final round of qualifying.

Sarah Cardwell, 31, is the only Australian in the field who has experience at the World Championships having competed in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 editions of the event.

She is facing Austria’s Jacqueline Peychär in the first round, and if she makes it through her first two matches could face second seed Saskia Beinhard (Germany) for a spot in Chicago.

Joseph White is the only Australian in the men’s draw, and will take on local hope Sam Todd (England) in his first match. The pair last met at the NTA Squash Classic in Boston last May, with White hoping he can overturn the result from that occasion this week.

Live scoring will be available at https://www.psaworldtour.com/live/

2022-23 PSA World Championships Qualifying Event
Birmingham ENG
12-14 April 2023

Round 1 Matches - Wednesday 12 April
10:30pm AEST Joseph White v 7-Sam Todd (ENG)
10:30pm AEST Sarah Cardwell v Jacqueline Peychär (AUT)
11:15pm AEST Alex Haydon v Ali Loke (WAL)
Jess Turnbull - Bye