King back to defend Australian Open title
08-Jun-2010 - Squash Australia
King stunned a talented field when she stormed to the 2009 Australian Open, beating 2008 champion Annie Au of Hong Kong in a thrilling women’s final.
The Australian Open was the biggest win of the 21-year-old’s career and began a surge up the world rankings to her current position of 20.
Following the rise in prize money for the 2010 tournament, King acknowledged she would find it difficult to defend her title at Canberra’s Royal Theatre from August 10-15.
“Winning the Australian Open was an absolutely amazing feeling for me, my first major title and some good wins over top 20 players,” King said of her 2009 triumph.
“I went into the tournament seeded sixth, but after a lot of hard work I knew I was ready to make a breakthrough.
“Joining the class of players on that trophy was so exciting and no one will ever take that away from me.
“I’m looking forward to Canberra this year and the next challenge of defending my title, which I know is going to be much tougher.
“Having gone up to a gold level tournament all the best players in the world will be there.”
King will be joined in the field by fellow countrywoman Jaclyn Hawkes, the world number 14, and France’s world number 18 Isabelle Stoehr.
Other confirmed entries are Malaysia’s Delia Arnold (22), Denmark’s Line Hansen (26), Queenslander Lisa Camilleri (39) and the world’s top ranked junior, India’s Dipika Pallikal.
Organisers are expecting many of the world’s top 10 to enter this year’s tournament.
In the men’s field, 19 of the top 20, including Australians David Palmer, Cameron Pilley and Stuart Boswell and new number one Englishman Nick Matthew have entered.