NM Academy Open Preview: Wall Aiming For Win At Home Club

The AS Insurance Services Ltd NM Academy Open takes place this weekend at Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August.

The event features a Challenger 3 title for the men, and a Challenger 5 title for the women, with both draws restricted to only those currently residing in the United Kingdom, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish duo of Alison Thomson and Georgia Adderley will lead the way in the women’s draw, with fellow top 100 players, Alicia Mead and Grace Gear, also in action.

Pakistan’s Faiza Zafar, Finland’s Emilia Korhonen and Dutchwoman Sanne Veldkamp give the women’s draw a somewhat international feel. That continues in the men’s draw, with Zimbabwean Tayne Turnock and South Africa’s Robert Howarth in action.

Harry Falconer and Stuart MacGregor are in action at the top end of the men’s draw, with the top seed being World No.146. Nick Wall. We spoke to the Englishman, who is fresh off reaching the second round of a major tournament for the first time, after he did so at the Allam British Open earlier this week.

“It’s been a difficult few months for me after picking up an ankle injury and then getting COVID just as I’d got back playing again. I had very limited preparation for the British Open with just two weeks of training before the event but with a strong pep talk from my coaches Nick Matthew and Neil Guiery we managed to maximise everything we could within that time to bring my level back up to being able to compete again,” Wall explained.

“Considering all of that, I am happy with where my game is and we’ve had a lot of time to think about how we’d like to further develop it now and where we want to take it moving forward!”

Wall was one of two wildcards in the men’s draw, alongside Sam Todd, and he took out compatriot and former World No.9 Daryl Selby to make it through to the last 32 of the tournament.

“[It was an] Unbelievable experience and I am very grateful to have been given the wildcard into such a prestigious event in our sport. I feel like the insight into my first Platinum tournament has given me great confidence in myself that I belong in those events, I felt very comfortable in the environment and really thrived off the adrenaline in my matches!” the Englishman said.

“To beat Daryl was special for me, he’s a player I had watched a lot growing up, and I knew it was going to be a tricky match with his great experience and skill, alongside that I was unaware of where my own level was before that match was a huge relief when I managed to get over the finish line.

“Also, to have my dad in the crowd watching on meant the world. He is extremely passionate about my squash, which is not surprising after putting in all the hours with me he did since I was just a toddler, so for the first match he has watched me live in over two years to be a win in the first round at the British Open was an incredible feeling for both of us. Any success I have in squash will always be shared between us as for me to be a top player has always been just as much a dream of his than it has mine!”

After that incredible experience in Hull, the World No.146 now turns his attention to the Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club for this weekend’s event.

It has been nearly two years since the Englishman last claimed victory on the Tour, when he won the Life Time Vegas Open in 2019, and he admits that it has been too long.


“It does feel like a lifetime ago since I lifted that trophy so I am extremely hungry to get my hands on my second tour title, and what place better to do it than my home club in Sheffield, Hallamshire!” he explained.

“It would mean a great deal to win this week in Sheffield as there will be many of my friends and family there to support, many of which have seen how hard I have found it being off court so much in recent times, including my coaches Nick Matthew and Neil Guirey so not just to win it for myself but also for them!”


Following a good run at the Allam British Open, Wall’s ranking is sure to improve come September 1st, and although he does not focus too much on the rankings themselves, he knows that the major tournaments are where he wants to be playing his squash in future.

“I have never tried to focus on rankings too much as I have always found much more pleasure in progression in terms of level and seeing constant improvements in my game as I value the opinions of my coaches Nick and Neil more than a ranking,” Wall admitted.

“However, I am desperate to play in the biggest tournaments squash has to offer so I can really showcase my squash against top players. so I am eager to get my ranking to that point as quickly as possible now the tour is moving back towards normality.

“I am a strong believer in taking each tournament as they come so my full focus in on the tournament this week and a win here would be the perfect start to climbing the rankings.”

The event takes place from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August at the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club, where Nick Wall is the top seed for the men’s event. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: AS Insurance Services Ltd NM Academy Open
[2] Harry Falconer (ENG) v Finally Withington (ENG)
Martin Ross (SCO) v [8] Nick Ratnarajah (ENG)
[7] Phil Nightingale v Carlton Oldham (ENG)
[WC] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) v [3] Stuart MacGregor (ENG)
[4] Simon Herbert (ENG) v Tayne Turnock (ZIM)
Robert Howarth (RSA) v [5] Jack Mitterer (ENG)
[6] Aaron Allpress (ENG) v James Wilkinson (ENG)
Benjamin Sockett (ENG) v [1] Nick Wall (ENG)

Women’s First Round Draw: AS Insurance Services Ltd NM Academy Open
[1] Alison Thomson (SCO) v Saran Nghiem (ENG)
Katie Wells (ENG) v [6] Torrie Malik (ENG)
[7] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) v Tayla Mounter (ENG)
Charlotte Jagger (ENG) v [4] Grace Gear (ENG)
[3] Alicia Mead (ENG) v Sanne Veldkamp (NED)
[WC] Polly Clark (ENG) v [8] Kace Bartley (ENG)
[5] Faiza Zafar (PAK) v Katriona Allen (SCO)
Emilia Korhonen (FIN) v [2] Georgia Adderley (SCO)