Sport is built on rivalry and the desire to beat an opponent whether an individual or a team. That’s what makes it so compelling for many of us.
Often the drive to win can lead to hard-fought and often bitter relationships between professional athletes.
The list of these feuds is almost as old as professional sport itself – Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in Formula 1, Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett on the athletics track, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe’s tennis wars or England and just about everyone they ever face in most sports.
Manchester plays host to one such rivalry this week as Nick Matthew and James Willstrop compete in the World Squash Championship.
The two Yorkshiremen may be close geographically but in terms of their relationship they could not be further apart.
Their rivalry even extends to a bid to outdo each other by releasing of competing autobiographies in the run-up to the tournament.
“Everyone knows we’re not the best of friends,” admits world number three Willstrop.
“It’s not been the easiest of relationships but I think people have enjoyed that niggle and the difficulties we’ve had on the court.”
World number four Matthew, who won the title in 2010 and 2011, is clear about the source of the friction between the two.
“We don’t literally hate each other’s guts, you know,” said the 33-year-old.
“I guess our personalities just clash. It’s always accentuated when there’s adrenaline involved and prizes on the line, I guess.”
Sheffield-based Matthew holds the upper hand over his rival from Pontefract having won their last 15 meetings, a record which Willstrop finds it hard to explain.
“His achievements and the way he handles himself on the squash court is very inspirational to others and to me,” he said.
“I think through our fantastic matches we have learnt from one another.”
The pair are in different halves of the draw and would be due to meet in the final if all goes according to plan.
However, that possibility does not take account of the challenge posed by world number one and current champion Ramy Ashour from Egypt, who has won 50 matches in a row.
The championships are dominated by English and Egyptian players, who had 31 players in the first round draw containing only 64 names.
Indeed the list of the world’s top ten players contains five from the African country and three home favourites and sets the seal on their dominance of the sport.
For the uninitiated squash can seem like a confusing game. Played on a clear walled court at frantic pace it can be difficult to keep up with the speed of the ball and the player.
The scoring system is simple: the matches are best of five games with the first 11 winning the game.
Put two squash maestros in a glass cage however and it becomes more like a gladiatorial contest than a racquet sport.
There is a type of poetry to the game as the two players joust for space in the cramped confines of the court and battle to out think and outplay each other.
If the two leading English players meet in Sunday’s final it should be a bloodless contest with any luck. Whatever the outcome, hopefully it will be able to reach the heights of some of the great sporting rivalries whose acrimonious contests have lit up history.
Image courtesy of HBOsports via YouTube, with thanks.
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