James Willstrop

James Willstrop (born 15 August 1983) is an English professional squash player living in Yorkshire, England. He was born in North Walsham, Norfolk, England.

James Willstrop
James Willstrop at the 2017 Men's World Team Squash Championships
CountryEngland
ResidenceHarrogate, North Yorkshire, England
Born (1983-08-15) 15 August 1983
North Walsham, Norfolk
Height1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb)
Turned Pro2002
RetiredActive
PlaysRight Handed
Coached byDavid Campion
Racquet usedUnsquashable
Websitewww.willstrop.co.uk/
Men's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (January 2012)
Current rankingNo. 25 (October 2022)
Title(s)21
Tour final(s)46
World OpenF (2010)
Medal record
Men's squash
Representing  Great Britain
World Games
Silver medal – second place2009 KaohsiungSingles
Bronze medal – third place2005 DuisburgSingles
Representing  England
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2010 KhobarSingles
Bronze medal – third place2005 Hong KongSingles
Bronze medal – third place2009 KuwaitSingles
Bronze medal – third place2011 RotterdamSingles
Bronze medal – third place2012 DohaSingles
Bronze medal – third place2015 BellevueSingles
World Team Championships
Gold medal – first place2005 IslamabadTeam
Gold medal – first place2007 ChennaiTeam
Gold medal – first place2013 MulhouseTeam
Silver medal – second place2011 PaderbornTeam
Silver medal – second place2017 MarseilleTeam
Silver medal – second place2019 Washington D.C.Team
Bronze medal – third place2003 ViennaTeam
World Doubles Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 GlasgowDoubles
Bronze medal – third place2017 ManchesterDoubles
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Gold CoastSingles
Silver medal – second place2006 MelbourneMixed doubles
Silver medal – second place2010 DelhiSingles
Silver medal – second place2014 GlasgowSingles
Bronze medal – third place2014 GlasgowDoubles
Bronze medal – third place2018 Gold CoastDoubles
Commonwealth Youth Games
Gold medal – first place2000 EdinburghTeam
Last updated: 13 April 2022.
James Willstrop reacts during the 2009 Kuwait Open semi-finals.

Career

Willstrop has a large build for a squash player, being 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) and 194 pounds (88 kg). He trains at Pontefract Squash Club in West Yorkshire, where he was trained by his father, Malcolm Willstrop.[1]

In 2002 Willstrop claimed his third consecutive British Junior Under-19 National Championship title, to establish himself as England's most successful junior player of all time – having won National titles at all age groups (under-12, under-14, under-17, and under-19), and British Junior Open trophies at under-14, under-17, and under-19. In the same year, he established himself as the world's top junior player, claiming both the European and the World junior titles.

Willstrop went on to be one of the youngest players ever to play for the senior England team, representing his country for the first time at both the European and World Team Squash Championships in 2003.[2]

In 2004, he won the Pakistan Open title in Islamabad (upsetting Amr Shabana in the quarter-finals) in his first appearance in a PSA Super Series final. In 2005, he finished runner-up at the British Open as the seventh seed, then followed this by lifting the Qatar Classic trophy in only his second Super Series final appearance. This first-time success led to Willstrop a career-high World No. 2 in the PSA world rankings published that December. This made Willstrop the top-ranked Englishman, which led to his promotion to squad number one in the England team for the 2005 World Team Championships in Pakistan later in the month when he led the team to victory for the first time in eight years.

In the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Willstrop partnered with Vicky Botwright to a Silver Medal in the Mixed Doubles. Willstrop also won the 2007 British National Squash Championships title, beating John White in the final. In December 2007, Willstrop helped England retain the World Team Championship title in Chennai, India, and won the English Open, beating fellow Yorkshireman Nick Matthew in the final.

Willstrop retained his British National title in February 2008, beating fellow Pontefract player Lee Beachill in the final. He also finished runner-up at the British Open for the second time in May 2008, losing in a five-set final to David Palmer. Willstrop held match balls at 10–9 and 11–10 in the fifth game, but Palmer ultimately won 11–9, 11–9, 8–11, 6–11, and 13–11 (3–2).

In January 2010, Willstrop won his first Tournament of Champions title in New York, defeating World Number 1 Ramy Ashour in the final and dropping only one game during the tournament.

In the singles final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Willstrop was defeated by compatriot Nick Matthew 11–6, 11–7, 11–7. The match ended after 66 minutes.[3]

Willstrop ended his 2011 season by winning 15 matches in a row en route to winning the Hong Kong Open, the Kuwait Open, and The Punj Lloyd PSA Masters. With those 3 PSA World Series titles, Willstrop put himself into First place in the PSA World Series rankings as well as ensuring his place at the top of the world rankings list. Willstrop succeeded fellow Englishman Nick Matthew as the World No. 1 in January 2012. Matthew regained his World No. 1 spot by defeating Willstrop in the Tournament of Champions 2012 on 26 January 2012.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Willstrop won the Gold Medal in the Men's Singles, beating Paul Coll of New Zealand in straight games, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6.[4]

In 2020, Willstrop won the British National title, beating Joel Makin in the final.

Personal life

Willstrop is a vegan.[5]

He resides in Harrogate, Yorkshire, with his partner Vanessa Atkinson, herself a professional squash player.[6]

World Open final appearances

0 title and 1 runner-up
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up2010Al-Khobar, Saudi ArabiaEngland Nick Matthew7–11, 11–6, 11–2, 11–3

Major World Series final appearances

British Open: 3 finals (0 title, 3 runner-up)
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up2005Australia Anthony Ricketts11–7, 11–9, 11–7
Runner-up2008Australia David Palmer11–9, 11–9, 8–11, 6–11, 13–11
Runner-up2009England Nick Matthew8–11, 11–8, 7–11, 11–3, 12–10

Tournament of Champions: 3 finals (1 title, 2 runner-up)
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up2008Egypt Ramy Ashour11–7, 14–12, 11–9
Winner2010Egypt Ramy Ashour12–10, 11–5, 9–11, 11-3
Runner-up2012England Nick Matthew8–11, 11–9, 11–5, 11–7

Qatar Classic: 2 finals (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2005Australia David Palmer11–1, 11–7, 11–7
Runner-up2011France Grégory Gaultier11–8, 11–7, 2–11, 11–8

US Open: 1 final (0 title, 1 runner-up)
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up2009England Nick Matthew11–7, 11–4, 11–7

Pakistan International: 1 final (1 title, 0 runner-up)
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2004Australia Anthony Ricketts6–11, 11–9, 13–11, 11–3

See also

References
  1. "James Willstrop interviews his father, squash coach and inspiration". The Guardian. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. "James Willstrop". www.squashplayer.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. "Day Five – the Finals". Squashsite. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  4. "GC2018 - Squash". GC2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. "‘I try not to get hung up on food and sometimes you have to accept what’s available’". Squash Mad. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. "World Squash Championship: Ashour & Matthew into quarters". BBC Sport. 30 October 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading
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