Turnbull chasing rare three-peat at National Championships

Australia’s best players will vie for glory this week when the 2024 Australian National Championships take place at the newly-revamped WA Squash Centre.

World No.60 Jess Turnbull heads up the women’s draw and will attempt to become just the second player ever to claim the title three years in a row since the tournament’s inception in 2003.

Kasey Brown was the only other player to achieve the feat between 2006 and 2008, and while Turnbull was unaware she may be able to gain her own slice of history, it is not front of mind coming into the tournament.

“I don’t need the three-in-a-row to be a carrot,” she said. “For me it’s enough to be another National Championship - that’s enough of a motivator for me to keep that title.”

Going into last year’s successful title defence, Turnbull just had enough in the tank to get the job done in Sydney, and hopes she can do the same again over the coming days in WA.

“It’s been a big 23/24 season - bigger than last year, even,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of time overseas, spent a lot of time travelling so I am pretty ready for a break!”

Turnbull comes into the ANC at the tail end of a strong campaign which saw her reach the second round of the Squash Australian Open, earn qualification to her first World Championships and claim the Oceania Closed title.

Looking to challenge Turnbull will be No.2 seed Alex Haydon who is also riding high on solid form.

Disappointed after a first round loss at the Australian Open, Haydon regrouped to win the World Championships qualifier, make the Hyder Trophy final in New York before lifting the WA Open International trophy with a come-from-behind victory over Sarah Cardwell on the weekend.

Cardwell and Madison Lyon are the 3/4 seeds for the tournament, with both players looking to go one-better than their semi-final appearances last year.

“As a collective female cohort this year we’ve had some really good movement, some really good improvement across the board and I think it should be a really competitive event.,” said Turnbull.

In the men’s draw, top seeds Joseph White and Rhys Dowling will both the gunning for their first ANC title.

Dowling in particular will be keen to get his hands on the trophy, having fallen in the final for the past three years.

2020 champion Nick Calvert is one of the 3/4 seeds alongside Dylan Molinaro who knocked Calvert out in the 2023 quarters before being defeated by Dowling in the semis.

The 2024 Australian National Championships get underway on Thursday afternoon at the WA Squash Centre in Perth, with the finals to be contested on Sunday afternoon.

In addition to the closed PSA events, graded competitions will be held across the weekend..

Live streaming will be available at SquashAUS.TV.

Click here for PSA closed draws

Click here for the Australian National Championships Honour Roll.

Image: John Veage