Unpredictable Colombian Rodriguez promises rich fare

Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia.

A new dimension to squash will be seen when the unpredictable Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia walks into the all-glass court in front of the Burj Khalifa next week to take on the three-time former world champion Nick Matthew of England on Day 1 of the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals from May 24-28.
Matthew is amongst the oldest players competing on the PSA World Tour, but the man known as 'The Wolf' continues to be a genuine World Series title challenger, and will draw on his legendary tenacity and mental strength when he meets one of the most popular players on the world tour.
Rodriguez, known as the 'Colombian Cannonball', is the most successful South American player of all time whose acrobatic and unique approach make him a firm crowd favourite all over the world with his lightening reactions and incredible speed.
The top eight male and female squash players in the world will arrive in Dubai next week ready for one of the toughest competitions of the year.
Play begins on Tuesday, May 24 at 2pm, with eight best-of-three matches on each of the first three days, with every player playing once each day. One of the expected highlights of Day 1 will be the clash between new world champion and world number one Nour El Sherbini and her compatriot and former world number one Raneem El Welily.
Nour has taken the PSA World Tour by storm in 2016, becoming the first Egyptian woman ever to win the prestigious Allam British Open and Women's World Championship, during an impeccable run that has seen her become the dominant force in women's squash, while Raneem made her mark on world squash when she ended the nine year reign at the top of the rankings for eight time world champion Nicol David in September 2015.
Day 2 will see the legendary Nicol of Malaysia, the most successful and dominant female player ever in the history of squash with eight World Championship crowns amongst 80 career PSA World Tour titles, take on former world number one and 2013 world champion Laura Massaro of England. Both aged 32 and steely competitors, David and Massaro have had some epic battles over many years.
Day 3 will see current world number one and the top seed Mohamed Elshorbagy take on Matthew, while world champion Gregory Gaultier of France will face Egypt's Omar Mossad, the man he beat to clinch the World Championship in November, 2015. Gaultier defeated Mossad again in the final of the US Open in October 2015, before Elshorbagy asserted his dominance in the competition winning the next six titles.
Gaultier last won the PSA World Series Finals in 2008 and 2009 and is looking forward to competing against the very best players in what he says is a tournament like no other.
Tickets are still available for the first three days of competition and are on sale now through Ticketmaster:https://www.ticketmasteruae.ae/etkinlik-grup/699890/ALL/en. Tickets start at Dh25 per session for general entry.
moni@khaleejtimes.com