BRITISH OPEN SQUASH NEWS

Cassie Back In Action In Nottingham British Open

With two career-threatening back operations behind her, England's former world champion Cassie Jackman counts herself lucky to be even competing in this week's British Open Squash Championships at the Albert Hall in Nottingham from 01-05 October.

It was three years ago that the Norwich-based former world No1 first realised that there was a problem after she crashed out of the second round of the British Open that she was seeded to win. 

The England No1 recovered from surgery to remove part of a disc to go on to win two medals in last year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester - then again underwent the same operation on another part of the spine in September before making a successful return to the international squash circuit this year.

Jackman has already collected four WISPA World Tour titles in 2003 - and is one of only two players to have extended New Zealand's world No1 Carol Owens, unbeaten since last November, to five games.

"I feel fine at the moment, my movement's arguably better than it's ever been, but every day I know I could wake up in the morning and find out that I can't move," said the 30-year-old who is currently ranked six in the world.

"I've had a good summer's training and I was glad to win the Malaysian Open in August - but I am now raring to go in the British Open.

"I know I could win it, but I think it's probably one of the most open women's events for many years as I think a number of players are capable of lifting the title for the first time," Jackman, runner-up in 1999, explained.  "Carol's definitely the favourite, but then the pressure's all on her - she's never won it before and desperately wants to."

Before leaving New Zealand, Owens conceded to her national media:  "For every squash player it is the one title they want to win.  If I can walk away from the sport saying that I have won the British Open I will be very happy," said the Australian-born 32-year-old who clinched the World Open title in 2000.

Jackman made her British Open debut in 1987 and has been runner-up once and a semi-finalist three-times, including last year.  Owens boasts nine successive quarter-final appearances since 1994, finishing up as a semi-finalist in 2000 and runner-up the following year.

Both players will face qualifiers in the first round on Wednesday, with sixth-seeded Jackman expected to meet compatriot Linda Charman, the fourth seed from Eastbourne in Sussex in the quarter-finals, and favourite Owens predicted to reach Sunday's final against the No2 seed Natalie Grainger, the world No2 from the USA.

Women's first round draw:
[1] Carol Owens (NZL) v Qualifier
[7] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Stephanie Brind (ENG)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Fiona Geaves (ENG)
[5] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Vicky Botwright (ENG)
[6] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] Linda Charman (ENG) v Jenny Tranfield (ENG)
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Qualifier
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Qualifier