Derek Ryan and Madeline Perry, Ireland's highest ranked professional squash players, return to Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club this evening to open the defence of their Speedway Couriers sponsored National titles. Ryan will be bidding for his fifth successive victory in the tournament, making it seven in all, bringing him within three of Willie Hosey's record of 10.
While Stevie Richardson, seeded five this year, pushed Ryan all the way in a 90minute, five-set final 12 months ago, a new face on the Irish scene could prove to be the Dubliner's chief rival this time around.
Australian born Liam Kenny, seeded two, has recently declared for Ireland (his father Martin is from Cork) and brings with him an impressive sporting CV - the 23-year-old, now based in Holland, was coached by former World champion Geoff Hunt at the Australian Institute of Sport and has leapt from 117th in the world rankings to 54 in the last year.
Madeline Perry, a native of Banbridge, Co Down, will hope to cap what has been a hugely encouraging year on the professional circuit, one that saw her rise almost 60 places to 40 in the rankings, with her fourth national title in a row. She is seeded to meet Sligo's Aisling Blake in the final in what would be repeat of last year's decider in which Perry dropped just one point.
The finals take place at Fitzwilliam on Sunday, with the women's match scheduled for 2.0 and the men's at 3.0.
