North Coast Open Preview: Turnbull Aiming For Commonwealth Games Spot

The Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open takes place this week, with action from the Coffs Harbour Squash & Swim Centre from Thursday, February 17 to Sunday, February 20.

The Challenger 10 level tournament features both a men’s and women’s draw, with cross-border restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, meaning only those currently based in Australia and New Zealand have been permitted to enter.

Sarah Cardwell will be the top seed for the women’s tournament in Coffs Harbour, with Jessica Turnbull and Tamika Hunt, both members of the world’s top 100, in action as well.

Despite being the No.2 seed in the draw, Turnbull will be the highest ranked player in the event, and the World No.85 is looking forward to the event, as she makes her comeback from an injury she suffered around the New Year.

“I’m feeling reasonably good. I’m currently 6 weeks post a grade 3 ankle sprain (including a ruptured ligament). So obviously not where I would’ve liked to be but these things happen and I’m very happy to be back playing this quickly after an injury like that,” she explained.

Due to the pandemic, Turnbull only featured on Tour four times in 2021, but she won twice, taking victories at the Barfoot & Thomson Auckland Open, and the North Coast Open, which she defends this week.

“I only played four times in 2021 because of the circumstances here in Australia, I would have loved to be competing with the rest of the world, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to. Two out of four wins is a great ratio and I will take that,” she said.

“I would love to say that my results last year give me confidence, but as I said, I’m coming back from a pretty serious injury so I’m honestly just happy to be there.”

The second lockdown came at the wrong time for the Australian, who believes she was close to her best. However, that lockdown meant she was unable to travel outside of either Australia or New Zealand for the year, which also saw her ranking drop.

“I was the healthiest, fittest and was playing some of my best squash last year and didn’t get the opportunity to showcase that. I have been looking at tournaments constantly since our lockdown 2.0 happened in 2021 to see what I could play – but unfortunately it was just too many hurdles to overcome,” Turnbull admitted.

“I’m looking forward to competing again as I feel this part of the world has been shut off from the rest of the world so much that it’s about time we get to show off what we can do. Two years of training and not much else gives you a different sort of drive.”

“This ranking drop is simply from not being able to play tournaments. Now Australians are free to leave the country and travel without mandatory quarantine requirements my goal is to play as many tournaments I can and perform as well as I can. [With it] being 2022 and an Australian, my biggest goal this year is to make it into the Commonwealth Games team and represent my country.”

Turnbull will aim to win the title for a second straight year, while Cardwell and Hunt, the two women she beat in those finals in 2021, will be the nearest competitors. Former World No.1 Rachael Grinham will also be in the field for the Challenger 10 level event.

In the men’s event, Rhys Dowling will be the top seed, but Joseph White, the World No.126, will be the highest-ranked player in the draw. Nicholas and Thomas Calvert, along with Rohan Toole, Jack Hudson, Damon Macmillan and Benjamin Ratcliffe make up the rest of the top eight seeds.

The event takes place from Thursday, February 17 to Sunday, February 20 at the Coffs Harbour Squash & Swim Centre. Follow the PSA Challenger Tour on *Twitter* and *Facebook* for daily updates from the event.

Men’s First Round Draw: Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open
[1] Rhys Dowling (AUS) v Lachlan Coxsedge (AUS)
James Lloyd (AUS) v [5] Jack Hudson (AUS)
[4] Rohan Toole (AUS) v Rex Hedrick (AUS)
[8] Thomas Calvert (AUS) v Jamie Pattison (AUS)
[3] Nicholas Calvert (AUS) v David Turner (AUS)
Josh Larkin (AUS) v [6] Damon Macmillan (AUS)
[7] Benjamin Ratcliffe (AUS) v Bradley Fullick (AUS)
Dylan Molinaro (AUS) v [2] Joseph White (AUS)

Women’s First Round Draw: Roberts & Morrow North Coast Open
[1] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) – [Bye]
Sze Yu Lee (AUS) v [8] Madison Lyon (AUS)
[7] Jessica Osborne (AUS) v Maggy Marshall (AUS)
[4] Alex Haydon (AUS) – [Bye]
[3] Tamika Hunt (AUS) – [Bye]
[5] Rachael Grinham (AUS) – [Bye]
[6] Selena Sheikh (AUS) v Heather Pilley (AUS)
[2] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) – [Bye]