The first round of qualifying from the 2025 British National Squash Championships got underway this afternoon at St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis Club, with seven players booking their spots in this evening’s qualifying finals.
Local club pro Ruudi Clarke got the British Nationals off to the perfect start as he delighted the home crowd with a well-earned four-game win over Matt Gregory.
After losing out in a tight opening game tie-break, 27-year-old Clarke played some impressive squash to defeat his English compatriot, eventually coming through on his home court to win by a 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 scoreline.
After the match, Clarke said: “It was a little bit shaky at the start, but the last three games I thought I played some good squash. I’m really happy to get through to the second round of qualifying.
“The crowd 100% helped me out here today. I just want to thank everyone who came out to support me.”
On his opponent in the next round, Ben Smith, he added: “I’m looking forward to my match later against Ben. I’ve never played him before and I’m looking forward to the test.”
Clarke will be joined by England’s Michael Mattimore in the next round of qualifying, after the 26-year-old came through a hard-fought four-game clash with Wales’ Oliver Jones – who only picked up a squash racket for the first time four years ago.
In a match which saw regular traffic in the middle of the court, it was Mattimore whose experience came to the fore in the pressure moments to move through to an 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 victory after 49 minutes on court.
Elsewhere, in the men’s draw, 19-year-old Jake Sim-Baskar set up a qualifying final match with old school friend and training partner Heston Malik after defeating Scotland’s Archie Turnbull in an impressive three-game showing.
The last match of the afternoon session saw 18-year-old Dylan Roberts fight back from a game down to defeat 43-year-old Gbenga Adeyi by a 3-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6 scoreline.
In the women’s draw, England’s Olivia Owens scored the win of the session as she fought back from 2-1 down to claim victory over 16-year-old Reka Kemecsei.
The 18-year-old, who recently competed for England at the World Junior Team Championships in Cairo, drew on that vital experience to bounce back from 2-1 down with a pair of 11-7 victories.
Hayley and Annie Openshaw-Blower, meanwhile, both progressed to the qualifying finals after respective wins over teenage prospects Renata Colabella and Sienna Hampshaw.
After claiming a straight games victory on the all-glass court, Hayley said: “I went to university, played at Nottingham, but no professional circuit squash. Post-COVID, my boyfriend was also a squash player, and he just said ‘why not get back into it’. I’ve joined a great club who are all so supportive, so I’m just loving it.
“I haven’t played on a glass court since university, so it was a bit of a nervy start today. It was definitely nice to have had the practice on the court before the second match later today.”
Action from the 2025 British National Squash Championships qualifying finals will continue to be shown live on SQUASHTV from 18:00.
For updates on the British National Squash Championships, visit the official tournament website or follow England Squash on Facebook and Instagram.
Men’s Qualifying Round One:
Ruudi Clarke (ENG) bt Matt Gregory (ENG) 3-1: 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (43m)
Jake Sim-Baskar (ENG) bt Archie Turnbull (SCO) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 (39m)
Michael Mattimore (ENG) bt Oliver Jones (WAL) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 (49m)
Dylan Roberts (ENG) bt Gbenga Adeyi (ENG) 3-1: 3-11, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6 (29m)
Women’s Qualifying Round One:
Hayley Openshaw-Blower (ENG) bt Renata Colabella (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (25m)
Annie Openshaw-Blower (ENG) bt Sienna Hampshaw (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
Olivia Owens (ENG) bt Reka Kemecsei (ENG) 3-2: 11-6, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
Schedule – Qualifying Finals
Glass Court
18:00 Hayley Openshaw-Blower (ENG) v Isabel McCullough (ENG)
18:45 Ben Smith (ENG) v Ruudi Clarke (ENG)
19:30 Jamin Kalar (ENG) v Olivia Owens (ENG)
20:15 Dylan Roberts (ENG) v Perry Malik (ENG)
Side Court
18:00 Jake Sim-Baskar (ENG) v Heston Malik (ENG)
18:45 Emily Coulcher-Porter (ENG) v Annie Openshaw-Blower (ENG)
19:30 Michael Mattimore (ENG) v Noah Meredith (ENG)
20:15 Nia Seren Thomas (WAL) Olivia Besant (ENG)
