Broadberry Sports

Mingling with the bankers in London’s financial district on Monday will be 16 of the world’s top squash players. It is day one of the Canary Wharf Squash Classic, the capital’s coolest little tournament – and the only one played out entirely inside a small glass box.

Here to defend his title is James Willstrop, the world No.5 from Yorkshire. In the decade this event has been running, he’s won it four times.

Willstrop is a maverick athlete. In person he is unexpectedly charming. Famously sportsmanlike on court, he is regularly written off as being too nice – something he disputes. ‘I believe that sport should be played with respect,’ he said.

‘I’ve been to world No.1 and won world team championships. So you can win being – people call it “nice”, don’t they? – and I don’t know whether it is nice. It’s just respectful.’ 

To see the draw for the tournament click here

To see the history of the tournament click here

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