Nick Matthew & Tesni Evans Claim Historic British National Success

Nick Matthew secured a record tenth title and Tesni Evans became the first Welsh winner in the event's 43-year history as the 2018 Dunlop British National Squash Championships came to glorious climax at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

In Matthew's final British National appearance, the former world No.1 overcame fellow Yorkshireman and long-term rival, James Willstrop 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6 in a tightly-contested 69-minute finale.

Remarkably before Sunday's clash, the younger Willstrop - also a former world No.1 - had never triumphed over the his Sheffield rival in any Nationals match, falling short on seven occasions, including five times in finals.

But with the Pontefract man exhibiting a rich vein of form throughout the 2018 tournament, including making light work of 2011 champion Daryl Selby in the semi-finals, there was always cause for hope for the 34-year-old Willstrop.

Speaking after the match, Matthew expressed his disbelief at attaining a record ten titles: "I didn't think I would get one to be honest."

"I had three goals this year, one of them was to win the World Championships in December and the second was to try and get a tenth National title.

"As James said, I am a pretty horrible person on court, but James is pretty tough on there as well. We are both tough and that is why we have had such a good rivalry over the years."

Willstrop added: "It was a great match, I really enjoyed the squash on there.

"It is a good job he wins more than he loses, but he is a wonderful player, a wonderful ambassador for toughness and an incredibly hard player to compete against.

"I love playing the game - I am really enjoying it and if my body allows me to do it, I will keep going. I can't count on that necessarily but hope I will be back next year."

Welsh star Tesni Evans produced a scintillating performance to overcome England's Alison Waters in the earlier women's final.

Her straight games 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 victory in 43 minutes not only made the Welsh No.1 and world No.12 the women's champion, but also the first non-English woman and first Welsh player of either gender to claim a title in the championships' illustrious history.

The 25-year-old from Rhyl was appearing in her first final after knocking out the defending champion Laura Massaro - but any nerves that she might have had were far from obvious, as she hit to a good length from the outset and raced into a 10-3 lead in the first game.

World No.10 Waters - appearing the final for a record 10th time - saved two game balls with tight shots into the nick - although it was a case of third time lucky for Evans, whose ferocious volley down the right saw her home 11-5.

Evans, who secured her historic success without dropping a game throughout, conceded that she had gone on to court with a few butterflies.

"I was so excited last night to have made the final, and tried to bluff that I wasn't nervous about today - but I was, so just decided to go off as fast as I could," she said.

"I'm so proud to have won the match, and also to become the first Welsh person ever to be champion.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported or helped me - it means a lot."

Paying tribute to her opponent, the new champion added: "I have the utmost respect for Alison - thank you for the match today."

Waters, who won the event in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014, as well as being beaten finalist on five occasions - most recently two years ago - said: "It's never nice to lose a final.

"But Tesni was on fire from the start, and was the better player today.

"I'm proud to have got to the final. I didn't quite make it today, but I'll be back for sure next year!"