Calgary Women’s Week Preview: Former Champ Letourneau Excited To Return

The Calgary CFO Consulting Services PSA Women’s Squash Week takes place this week, and former champion Danielle Letourneau is excited to continue her return from injury at this year’s event.

The Challenger 20 level women’s competition, will be held at the Calgary Winter Club. The event will take place from Wednesday, March 8 to Sunday, March 12, and will feature a 24-strong draw, including five of the world’s top 50.

Letourneau made her return to the Tour last month at the Squash On Fire Open after spending eight months on the sidelines. This will be just her third tournament back, and she is glad that she is able to be playing again.

“I’m really happy being back on court. Right before my injury, I wasn’t enjoying my squash and was mentally struggling,” the Canadian admitted.

“Even though my recovery has been painful and has felt long, it’s given me time to really reflect on how I want to play going forward, but more importantly given me perspective on life. I’m in a much better place and it’s fun to be competing again! 

“I wish my fitness and recovery was back to 100% but to be honest, it’s not. However, I’ve put in some good work— fixing my mobility, increasing strength in the right places, and becoming more efficient in how I go about working out. I think in a few more months I’ll be back to normal, if not better.”

The former World No.18 won this title back in 2020 when she defeated Englishwoman Julianne Courtice in the final. After making the semis of the event last year, Letourneau is looking forward to playing in front of a knowledgeable crowd in Calgary once more.

“I’m very excited to return to Calgary and play in front of a home crowd! Everyone in Calgary brings positive energy to all of the PSA events in the city. I think we have a truly unique squash community and I hope that I can put on a good show for them!” Letourneau explained.

The 29-year-old is the No.2 seed for the competition, but that does not matter to her. Instead, she is just hoping to play well, and get more court time, having extended her goals through to the end of the calendar year.

“The seeding doesn’t matter much to me at the moment. While I’m the No.2 seed, I don’t really have any pressure to win or perform my best. I’m just looking to keep building my game and on the changes I’ve made, and to get more match play experience. If I win, then that’s a bonus!” Letourneau said. 

“By the end of this season I have some small performance goals. In particular I’m aiming to do well at the World Championships in May, and hopefully win another Challenger Tour event. It’s only been nine months since my injury/surgery so my main ranking goals extend to the end of 2023, after I’ve had more time to train fully.”

Englishwoman Lucy Turmel will be the tournament’s top seed but Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho will actually be the highest-ranked player in the draw. The World No.33 is also the defending champion, after beating compatriot Chan Sin Yuk in a thrilling five-game final in 2022.

Tsz-Wing Tong and Lucy Beecroft are the other members of the world’s top 50 in action this week. Millie Tomlinson and Katie Malliff make it four English women inside the top eight seeds, with Australia’s Sarah Cardwell also in that bracket for the Challenger 20 level competition.

In total, the 24-strong draw will see representation from 12 different nationalities. Jessica Turnbull and Alex Haydon join Cardwell as the Aussies in the draw, while Polish No.1 Karina Tyma, Dutch No.1 Tessa ter Sluis and Hungarian No.1 Kincso Szasz will all feature.

There will be five Canadians featuring this week on home soil in Calgary. World No.349 Maddison Laine joins Letourneau, along with Jackie Moss, Erin Roberts and Jaime Laird.

The event takes place from Wednesday, March 8 to Sunday, March 12 at the Calgary Winter Club, where Danielle Letourneau is the leading home favourite for the tournament. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event. Live scores will be available on the PSA World Tour website here.

First Round Draw: Calgary CFO Consulting Services PSA Women’s Squash Week
[2] Danielle Letourneau (CAN) – [Bye]
Erisa Sano Herring (JPN) v [9/16] Alex Haydon (AUS)
[9/16] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) v Kinos Szasz (HUN)
[6] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) – [Bye]
[5] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) – [Bye]
Arisha Khan (USA) v [9/16] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG)
[9/16] Menna Hamed (EGY) v Jackie Moss (CAN)
[4] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) – [Bye]
[3] Tomato Ho (HKG) – [Bye]
Giselle Delgado (CHL) v [9/16] Ching Hei Fung (HKG)
[9/16] Laura Tovar (COL) v Erin Roberts (CAN)
[7] Katie Malliff (ENG) – [Bye]
[8] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) – [Bye]
Maddison Laine (CAN) v [9/16] Karina Tyma (POL)
[9/16] Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v Jaime Laird (CAN)
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) – [Bye]