PSA Women’s World Championship runner-up Laura Massaro says she is relishing the chance to compete at the 2015/16 season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals when the showpiece event gets under way on May 24 in front of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building.
Massaro secured her place in the iconic tournament, which brings together the top eight players from the Men’s and Women’s Road To Dubai Standings, courtesy of a stellar campaign in which she claimed two PSA World Series titles during one of the most competitive seasons ever on the Women’s Tour.
“I’m really excited about playing at the World Series Finals,” said 32-year-old Englishwoman, who held the World No1 ranking until April this year before being usurped by Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini.
“It is fantastic to have the tournament back on. I played it last time when it was held in London and it was such an amazing event to be a part of – it’s an eight-woman draw, it’s best of three and it’s exciting.
“It is really something to look forward to at the end of the season for us all to come together and play a champion of the Tour title and it is even more exciting because the eight of us competing have all been on form from throughout the year.”
Massaro was one of a quartet of World Series winners this season alongside Nicol David, Raneem El Welily and El Sherbini.
Laura Massaro
- Born in 1983
- Commonwealth Games silver medallist
- Won 2014 World Team Championships
- World Ranking: 2
With the likes of Amanda Sobhy and Nouran Gohar also having reached major finals, the Dubai PSA World Series Finals promises to be the most competitive iteration in the tournament’s history – with Dubai providing the perfect backdrop.
“It’s exciting to have the top eight all playing fast, attacking squash and for the tournament to have such a good purse to go with it makes it more exciting because there’s a lot on the line,” she said. “There is big prize money on offer for the people who are there and with it being played in a shorter games format, it will be exciting for everyone watching and hopefully for us playing as well.
“I’ve been to Dubai several times on holiday and I stop over on the way to and from long events just to break up the journey and have some days in the sun. For someone who likes to be in the sun, it’s a nice place to be and it has that relaxing feel to it.
“Every time I’ve been there, I’ve enjoyed it, so I’m excited to go back to Dubai and play squash there for the first time.”
Tickets for the event are available to purchase at Ticketmaster.