SquashTalk > British Open 2002 Squash Website > Walker > Chris Walker Notebook - 2

Latest British Open
2002 BO Index
Men's Draw
Women's Draw
Men's Contenders
Women's Top Six
Bronstein Preview
Men's Pre Qualifier
Men's Qualifier
Women's Qual
Match-by- match comments
Walker's Notebook

Players
Photos:
   Round One
   Round Two
   Quarters
   Semis
   Finals

SquashTalk Offer:
 

Historical profile
Historical results
The 2001 British Open
The 2000 British Open
The 1999 British Open

Pro Squash Videos
Squash Books

Chris Walker
endorses Green Magic

[men's draw]      [women's draw]

END OF PART ONE: THE INTERVAL
London April 11 2002 © 2002 SquashTalk.
Photos special to SquashTalk by Fritz Borchert, © 2002

Chris Walker Rests Up for the Quarter Final Battle with Peter Nicol

Having sneaked through to the quarter finals this year by the skin of the skin of my teeth I, and the other 15 players in the draws, find ourselves with a rest day. I need it after walking away with a 15-14 fifth game, hour and a half struggle with familiar opponent Peter Genever.

To be honest I think that all the players would agree with the fact that secretly we always relish a rest day. It's a chance to recover but also appreciate everything that has been going on at the event - personally and at an organisational level.

So what do we do? Well, today we have to travel up to Manchester (200 miles north of London) which will be a large chunk of the day but at the same time we will be just quietly getting prepared mentally for our next matches.

I will continue to consume as much water as possible and at least twice as much Green Magic as my next opponent Peter Nicol! Generally the day will be uneventful with the highlights probably being a light practise for 30 minutes, two good square meals with plenty of carbohydrates, perhaps a video or film and a reasonably early night.

If we are in a foreign country then maybe we'd venture out for an hour to get a taste of the local culture. Jonathon Power and his wife, Seta, are heading back to London at the end of the tournament to do just that.

But a rest day really means just that.... a REST. Building up mental and physical reserves as much as possible ready for the second half of the tournament and if you're going to win the event then it is going to be harder from the quarter finals onward.

So after the interval we are ready for Part II. It is going to be fun playing at the Commonwealth Games facility and all the players are looking forward to seeing what a few million pounds can do in making a new and exciting venue.

But more of that when we get there!

In Squash

Chris Walker