Dubai: England’s Sarah-Jane Perry says she won’t be “overawed” when she makes her first appearance in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series Finals at Dubai Opera from June 6-10.
The 27-year-old World No.7 qualified for the season-ender courtesy of consistent performances in the PSA World Series events, which included a quarter-final finish at the World Championships and a run to the semis in the Tournament of Champions.
Her place was cemented when she reached the final of the British Open, before losing to compatriot Laura Massaro, who is England’s No.1 and the defending world series champion.
“I’ve never been to Dubai before and never played at the World Series Finals so I’m very excited to experience it all,” she said.
“At the start of the season my aims were to make the top eight in the rankings and I’ve managed to achieve that, so to qualify for Dubai is a huge bonus. There will be no pressure on me — I’ll just go out there and enjoy the experience and try to play some good squash.
“It will be a fantastic way to end the season.”
Perry is up against three past and present world champions in her group in Egypt’s two-time winner Nour Al Sherbini, Malaysia’s eight-time winner Nicol David and 2013 world champion Massaro. However, Perry is confident of producing another good week. “No stage overawes me now,” she said.
Perry has risen to the world’s top 10 after being told as a junior she wasn’t good enough to go pro.
“I’ve kept plugging away. I’ve never been upset by it. I’ve seen it as ammunition to work harder and prove people wrong.
“It is an extra thing to show people who have doubted me in the process. It’s not the main aim but it’s a nice bonus if I am playing well.
“You can see it with Laura as well — it creates that mental toughness and we aren’t offended easily. We are there to show that we are doing what we do to the best of our abilities.”
Matches will take place at 3 pm, 3.45pm, 4.45pm and 5.30pm in Group A and 9.30pm, 10.15pm, 11.15pm and midnight in Group B between June 6-8. Semi-finals and finals will start at 9.30pm on June 9 and 10 respectively.
Tickets for the finals can be purchased at https://dubaiopera.etixdubai.com/shows/show.aspx?sh=PSAUMB
